On Saturday 10th June Manchester City finally engraved their name on the trophy they coveted, and had eluded them so much, winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time to complete a top trump treble.
On paper, their results matched that of local rivals Manchester United team of 1999 of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies. But in reality, the Citizens had eclipsed by winning the Premier League the previous year as well. Although Manchester United have a different record of sorts, as being the first team to win the Champions League when not winning their domestic league previously.
A mere 17 days later, tonight the competition starts again, and we get to get goosebumps over the iconic UEFA’s official Champions League Anthem. This year 78 teams from 53 countries will play in either qualifying or the group phase. It’s the last in it’s current format before next years changes to accommodate more teams, another fundamental change to Europe’s top club tournament akin to pointless corporate restructuring.
The initial format in 1955 (as the European Cup) was a straight knockout tournament open only to the champion of Europe’s domestic leagues. It was simpler times, if you won the FA Cup you played in the Cup Winners Cup. In the 1992-93 season when it was renamed to the UEFA Champions League and the round robin league system was introduced, expanding for multiple entrants from certain countries in the 1997–98 season.
Of course, this then opened up the possibility of the champions of Europe not even being the countries league winners. This was the case for 14 of the 31 (45%) of the years, with Liverpool winning twice after finishing 4th, with ironically Chelsea doing the same the year after the Reds finally won their own personal chalice and crusade with their first league title in 31 years.
| Season | Winners | League Finish (winners) |
| 2022-23 | Manchester City | 1st |
| 2021-22 | Real Madrid | 2nd (Atletico Madrid) |
| 2020-21 | Chelsea | 4th (Liverpool) |
| 2019-20 | Bayern Munich | 1st |
| 2018-19 | Liverpool | 4th (Manchester City) |
| 2017-18 | Real Madrid | 1st |
| 2016-17 | Real Madrid | 2nd (Barcelona) |
| 2015-16 | Real Madrid | 2nd (Barcelona) |
| 2014-15 | Barcelona | 2nd (Atletico Madrid) |
| 2013-14 | Real Madrid | 2nd (Barcelona) |
| 2012-13 | Bayern Munich | 1st |
| 2011-12 | Chelsea | 2nd (Manchester United) |
| 2010-11 | Barcelona | 1st |
| 2009-10 | Inter Milan | 1st |
| 2008-09 | Barcelona | 3rd (Real Madrid) |
| 2007-08 | Manchester United | 1st |
| 2006-07 | AC Milan | 3rd (Inter Milan) |
| 2005-06 | Barcelona | 1st |
| 2004-05 | Liverpool | 4th (Arsenal) |
| 2003-04 | Porto | 1st |
| 2002-03 | AC Milan | 4th (Juventus) |
| 2001-02 | Real Madrid | 1st |
| 2000-01 | Bayern Munich | 1st |
| 1999-2000 | Real Madrid | 2nd (Barcelona) |
| 1998-99 | Manchester United | 2nd (Arsenal) |
| 1997-98 | Real Madrid | 1st |
| 1996-97 | Borussia Dortmund | 1st |
| 1995-96 | Juventus | 1st |
| 1994-95 | Ajax | 1st |
| 1993-94 | AC Milan | 1st |
| 1992-93 | Marseille | 1st |
There is another other aspect of the Champions League winners roll of the showpiece event. There have been 14 trophies won by a team from Spain, 7 from England, 4 from Germany, 3 from Italy, and 1 from France, Portugal and the Netherlands. Indeed it’s split over just 14 different teams, with Manchester City become just the 23rd club to win across any format.
This does warrant the suggestion the big countries deserve more places as the teams are statistically more like to reach the Champions League final.
Format Change for 2024-25
The new format will see four extra teams added into the league stage, with eight matches against 8 different teams, four home and away. The top 8 teams then go straight into the knockout stage.
Currently it is six group stage games against three teams in eight groups, with the top two qualifying.
Critics feel the change and extra place award each to England and Italy is nothing short of attempts to satisfy the clamour for a European Super League.
Either way, the 2023/24 Champions League pre-qualifiers start tonight featuring the league winners from the smaller countries. The matches pit Atletic Escaldes (Andorra) vs Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) and Tre Penne (San Marino) vs Breidablik (Iceland) for a playoff for place in the first qualifying round against League of Ireland winners Shamrock Rovers.
It’s a long path from tonight to the final at Wembley June 1st. English interest starts with the the draw for the group stage on 31 August, entering in matchday one on 19-20th September. No Russian or Belarusian teams are playing this year.
Team already in the Group stage (26 teams, plus six qualifiers):
- Austria: Red Bull Salzburg
- England: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle.
- France: Lens, Paris St-Germain.
- Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin.
- Italy: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Lazio, Napoli.
- Netherlands: Feyenoord
- Portugal: Benfica, Porto.
- Scotland: Celtic.
- Serbia: Red Star Belgrade.
- Spain: Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Sevilla (2022-23 Europa League winners).
- Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk.
Manchester City are clear favourites to repeat their success, and it’s hard to look past them with Bayern, PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona all challengers.
Napoli, Sevilla and Newcastle are dark horses to get to the quarter finals, but can’t be considered contenders.
It’s not the only shake up in the major tournaments desperate to become a super league. The FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 will also have an expanded team format.
Players to watch
South Korean Kim Min-jae of Napoli is a quality defender, excellent both on the ball and in the air and will gain some new plaudits. The 26 year old is already attracting interest from the big clubs.
His teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia rightly gets the spotlight too. The Georgian winger is considered one of the best young talents in Europe at just 22 years old and proved it by destroying Liverpool last year.
Last of the Napoli trio is Victor Osimhen, the 24 year old striker who terrifies defenders with his direct running, ability in the air, and predatory finishing. He’s the classic no.9, so it’s no surprise he’s constantly linked with a move to the premier League.
Barcelona’s Pedri is always eye-catching for the right reasons, the 20 year old Spaniard belies his age pulling the strings in midfield. A skilful dribbler and passer, he will be a creative force in this years tournament.
Englishman Jude Bellingham‘s move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid cements his word-class Galactico status. He turns 20 on the 29th June, so has time to develop into the Modric successor the fans want. How he links up with new teammate Vinicius Jr will be crucial. The Brazilian striker is the ultimate finisher player and just 22.
Compatriot Bukayo Saka of Arsenal has been instrumental to their success along with Danish Martin Odegaard. Both should shine again this year in creativity and exciting play as they orchestrate attack after attack for the Gunners.
And you can’t ignore the two best strikers in world football. Frenchman Kylian Mbappe of PSG, who will grace every list of players to watch for at least another decade as the 24 year old breaks records as he goes. And Norwegian machine Erling Haaland will continue scoring bucketful’s at Manchester City.
There are other young players who could be breakout stars, such as Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Heorhiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk), and Nicolas Seiwald (RB Salzburg).
