UEFA Champions League
Overview of the UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is a top sports tournament—everything you need to know about the world’s top club soccer event, held annually since 1955.
The UEFA Champions League is a five-round soccer tournament between 32 clubs to determine Europe’s top club.
What is the UEFA Champions League?
The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League has its first new format since 2003-04’s round of 16.
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) will include 36 teams, up from 32 last season. Ligas replaced group stages. Each team plays eight games versus eight others. Six group matches against three opponents were played before.
The football clubs will now play four home and four away games to decide league ranking.
The top eight teams from 36 advance to the round of 16, while 9th–24th place teams play a two-legged knockout. These playoff winners will fill the remaining eight round-of-16 spots. Finishing 25th or lower eliminates teams.
Seeded 9th–16th teams will play unseeded 17th–24th teams in the knockouts.
Teams who placed first to eighth in the league phase will be seeded and play the unseeded knockout phase play-off winners in the round of 16.
Knockout and round of 16 play-offs feature home second legs for seeded teams.
Top league finishers get better knockout seeding, altering their final path. Quarterfinals, semifinals, and final follow round 16.
Format of the Tournament
The 32 teams compete in a double-round-robin group stage. Group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 16, the first knockout round. The teams are point-ranked. A win earns three points, a draw one, and a defeat none. UEFA applies the following tiebreaking rules if points are tied:
- More points in group matches between the teams.
- Higher goal difference from group matches between teams.
- More goals in group matches between the teams.
- More goals away from home in group matches amon g the teams.
To calculate final rankings, criteria 1. through 4. are reapplied exclusively to matches between the remaining teams if teams still rank equally. If this approach fails, criteria 5–12 apply in the order provided to the two or more equal teams. - Better goal difference in all group matches.
- More goals in all group matches.
- More away goals in all group matches.
- More wins in all groups.
- More away wins in all group matches.
- Reduce disciplinary points to yellow and red cards only in all group matches (3 points, 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match).
- Better club coefficient.
Latest Premier League News & Updates
Exciting matches and spectacular performances are highlighting the UEFA Champions League. Recent highlights and updates:
Top teams compete for dominance
European powers Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and PSG have started well, setting up heated group stage competition. Fans expect heated knockout rounds due to their strong lineups and tactical skills.
Surprise Underdogs
Union Berlin and Galatasaray have surprised supporters by challenging higher-ranked opponents, making the competition unpredictable. This season’s underdogs showed that the Champions League is anyone’s game, thrilling fans and alerting clubs.
Key Player Injuries Impacting Teams
Players like Kevin De Bruyne and Pedri have been injured, forcing managers to change tactics. These injuries could affect team dynamics throughout the tournament, stressing the need of squad depth.
Player News and Team Announcements
Players News:
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)—Manchester City’s midfield specialist is recovering from a hamstring injury. City’s playmaking suffers without him, but fans hope he returns before the Champions League knockout stages.
- Kylian Mbappe (PSG)—PSG’s star attacker has scored in practically every game. His consistency is important for PSG to finish first in the group.
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) – Real Madrid’s latest signing, Jude Bellingham, has scored crucial goals and become a fan favorite with his midfield presence.
Teams’ announcements:
- Manchester United said that Rasmus Højlund will lead the attack in the forthcoming match, hoping to break down strong defenses.
- To accommodate injuries, Barcelona rotated their defensive lineup, with young defender Alejandro Balde playing a significant role in the team’s plan.
- Inter Milan – Lautaro Martinez will lead Inter up front and want to extend his goal-scoring streak as they try to advance in the group stage.
Live Scores and Match Results
| Match | Score | Result |
| Manchester City vs. PSG | 2-1 | Final |
| Barcelona vs. Inter Milan | 1-3 | Final |
| Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich | 1-1 | Ongoing |
| Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid | 0-2 | Final |
Today’s Matches
| Match | Kickoff Time (Local) | Value |
| Manchester United vs. Juventus | 18:45 | Old Trafford |
| Chelsea vs. Ajax | 21:00 | Stamford Bridge |
| PSG vs. Barcelona | 21:00 | Parc des Princes |
| Real Madrid vs. Liverpool | 18:45 | Santiago Bernabeu |
Recent Match Results
| Match | Score | Result |
| Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan | 0-1 | 29th Oct 2024 |
| PSG vs. Real Madrid | 2-2 | 28th Oct 2024 |
| Chelsea vs. Manchester City | 1-3 | 27th Oct 2024 |
| Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona | 2-0 | 26th Oct 2024 |
UEFA Champions League Standings
| Position | Team | Points | Wins | Draws | Loses | Goal Difference |
| 1 | Manchester City | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | +10 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | +8 |
| 3 | PSG | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | +6 |
| 4 | Bayern Munich | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +5 |
Group Stage Standings
Group A:
| Position | Team | Points | Wins | Draws | Loses | Goal Difference |
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | +12 |
| 2 | PSG | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | +9 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 4 | Inter Milan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 |
Group B:
| Position | Team | Points | Wins | Draws | Loses | Goal Difference |
| 1 | Real Madrid | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | +11 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | +8 |
| 3 | Barcelona | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -1 |
| 4 | Ajax | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -9 |
Knockout Stage Bracket
| Round | Match | 1st Leg Score | 2nd Leg Score | Aggregate |
| Round of 16 | PSG vs. Chelsea | 2-1 | 1-1 | 3-2 |
| Real Madrid vs. Manchester United | 2-0 | 1-2 | 3-2 | |
| Quarterfinals | Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona | 3-2 | TBD | TBD |
| Manchester City vs. Inter Milan | 4-1 | TBD | TBD | |
| Semifinals | Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4 | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| Final | Semifinal Winner 1 vs. Semifinal Winner 2 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Teams and Star Players
| Team | Star Player | Position | Nationality | Achievements |
| Real Madrid | Vinícius Júnior | Forward | Brazil | La Liga Champion, Top Scorer |
| Manchester City | Erling Haaland | Forward | Norway | Premier League Top Score |
| PSG | Kylian Mbappé | Forward | Norway | Premier League Top Score |
| Bayern Munich | Joshua Kimmich | Midfielder | Germany | Bundesliga Champion |
| Barcelona | Robert Lewandowski | Forward | Poland | Multiple Bundesliga Titles |
| Inter Milan | Lautaro Martínez | Forward | Argentina | Serie A Champion |
| Chelsea | Raheem Sterlin | Forward | England | Premier League Champion |
| Juventus | Federico Chiesa | Midfielder | Italy | Italian Champion |
Top Teams Competing This Season of UEFA
| Position | Team | Coach | Recent Achievements |
| 1 | Real Madrid | Carlo Ancelotti | 14-Time UCL Winner |
| 2 | Manchester City | Pep Guardiola | Defending UCL Champion |
| 3 | PSG | Luis Enrique | Dominant in Ligue 1 |
| 4 | Bayern Munich | Thomas Tuchel | Bundesliga Title Holder |
| 5 | Barcelona | Xavi Hernandez | La Liga Champion |
| 6 | Inter Milan | Simone Inzaghi | Serie A Runner-Up |
Key Players to Watch
| Player | Match | Position | Nationality | Notable Stats |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Forward | Norway | 40+ Goals in Previous Season |
| Kylian Mbappé | PSG | Forward | France | Fastest Scorer in Ligue 1 |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | Midfielder | England | Youngest UCL Performer |
| Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid | Forward | Brazil | Skillful Dribbler |
| Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | Forward | Poland | Multiple UCL Goals |
| Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich | Forward | Argentina | Scored in Critical Matches |
| Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | Forward | England | Premier League Playmaker |
Champions League Statistics and Rankings
| Rank | Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
| 1 | Manchester City | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 2 |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 5 |
| 4 | Barcelona | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
| 5 | PSG | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 6 |
Top Scorers and Assist Leaders
| Rank | Player | Team | Goal Scored | Assists |
| 1 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 6 | 2 |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé | PSG | 6 | 1 |
| PSG | Kylian Mbappé | Forward | Norway | Premier League Top Score |
| 3 | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | 3 | 1 |
Team and Player Stats
| Statistic | Team/Player | Value |
| Most Goals Scored | Manchester City | 12 Goals |
| Most Assists by Player | Robert Lewandowski | 3 Assists |
| Most Clean Sheets | Real Madrid | 3 Clean Sheets |
| Highest Pass Accuracy | Joshua Kimmich | 92% |
| Top Goalkeeper Saves | Andre Onana (Inter) | 20 Saves |
| Most Fouls | PSG | 15 Fouls |
| Most Yellow Cards | Inter Milan | 6 Yellow Cards |
| Player with the Most Shots | Inter Milan | 25 Shots |
Champions League Finals and Key Highlights
| Season | Final Teams | Score | Winner |
| 2022-2023 | Manchester City vs Inter Milan | 1-0 | Manchester City |
| 2021-2022 | Real Madrid vs Liverpool | 1-0 | Real Madrid |
| 2020-2021 | Chelsea vs Manchester City | 1-0 | Chelsea |
| 2019-2020 | Bayern Munich vs PSG | 1-0 | Bayern Munich |
| 2018-2019 | Liverpool vs Tottenham | 2-0 | Liverpool |
Path to the Final
| Round | Manchester City (2022-23) | Real Madrid (2021-22) | Bayern Munich (2019-20) |
| Round of 16 | City def. RB Leipzig (8-1 agg.) | Madrid def. PSG (3-2 agg.) | Bayern def. Chelsea (7-1 agg.) |
| Quarterfinals | City def. Bayern (4-1 agg.) | Madrid def. Chelsea (5-4 agg.) | Bayern def. Barcelona (8-2) |
| Semifinals | City def. Real Madrid (5-1 agg.) | Madrid def. Man City (6-5 agg.) | Bayern def. Lyon (3-0) |
| Finals | City def. Inter (1-0) | Madrid def. Liverpool (1-0) | Bayern def. PSG (1-0) |
Previous Finals and Memorable
| Season | Teams | Score |
| 2024-2005 | Liverpool vs AC Milan | 3-3 (Liverpool won on penalties) |
| 1998-1999 | Manchester United vs Bayern Munich | 2-1 |
| 2011-2012 | Chelsea vs Bayern Munich | 1-1 (Chelsea won on penalties |
| 2013-2014 | Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid | 4-1 (AET) |
| 2017-2018 | Real Madrid vs Liverpool | 3-1 |
Frequently Ask Questions
How many teams compete in the Champions League?
32 teams compete in the UEFA Champions League group stage. These clubs qualify from European leagues, including top league automatic qualifications and qualifying rounds.
How does the Champions League format work?
The competition begins with 32 teams in 8 groups of 4. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage after playing home and away games. The knockout rounds include of two-legged home-and-away matches and a single-match final to determine the champion.
When is the Champions League Final?
Depending on the season, the Champions League Final is held in late May or early June.
How can I watch the UEFA Champions League live?
BT Sport, CBS, and DAZN broadcast the Champions League live. Depending on area, official broadcaster websites and apps offer streaming.