The Champions League is the most important and the most prestigious European football cup arresting millions of football fans to their TV screens and drawing thousands of supporters at the stadiums. Scores of clubs from 53 UEFA associations fight for the right to play in the Champions League, but only 32 teams reach the main stage. It's a seasonal tournament - it starts in the end of summer and ends in the end of spring.
The 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League final will take place at the "Stadio Olimpico" in Rome. It will be the 4th major European Cup final for the stadium.
"Real Madrid" keeps the record in winning the Champions League and its predecessor - the European Cup. The Royal club has won a record nine titles.
The top goalscorer of the 2006/2007 UEFA Champions League became a Brazilian midfielder of AC "Milan" Kaka. He scored 10 goals. In this season the current top goalscorer is an African forward of "Rosenborg" Yussouf Kone. He has already scored 8 goals.
The Lenin Library is the biggest library in Europe, and the second one in the world – giving way only to the USA Library of Congress.
All the seats in "Luzhniki" are covered by a visor (63.5 metres wide and 15 thousand tons weighing) holding 72 steel bearings (each of them is 26 metres high).
According to Mercer company Moscow is claimed to be the most expensive city in the world. But that’s absolutely not true, because in Mercer research only elite goods and services are analyzed – that are actually not relevant for tourists.
In the 2007/2008 season clubs from dwarf countries Andorra and San-Marino as well as from newly founded Montenegro were allowed to play in the Champions League.
The "Luzhniki" stadium was previously (before the USSR disintegration) called "the Central Lenin Stadium".
Many people think that the "Luzhiki" stadium was constructed specially for the 1980 Olympic games. It’s not true. It was constructed in 1956 and has been repeatedly modernized and reconstructed.
The biggest score in the UEFA Champions League finals was fixed in 1959/1960 season. "Real Madrid" beat "Eintracht" (Germany) – 7:3. The biggest score in modern Champions League finals was fixed in 2004/2005 season, when "Liverpool" defeated AC "Milan" in penalty shootout. Main time of the match ended with 3:3 score.
8:0 - it's the biggest score ever fixed in the Champions League. This record was settled in the current Champions League season: "Liverpool" beat "Besiktas J.K.".
In 1999 the "Luzhniki" hosted another major European Cup final - the UEFA Cup final. "Parma" (Italy) defeated "Olympic" from Marseilles in that match and won the title.
Giorgio Armani shop in Moscow is the biggest shop of the trademark in Europe. Its area is 685.5 square metres.
From the list of teams having entered the knockout stage in this season only "Real", "Milan" and PSV played in the very first season of the Champions League (The European Champion Clubs’ Cup at the time).
Not every club can afford itself to play in the Champions League. For instance, in this season management of "Shelbourne" (Ireland) withdrew from participation in the Champions League due to the financial problems. The vacant place was occupied by the Irish championship runner-up - "Derry City" club.
The history of the tournament starts in 1955 (it was called "the European Champion Clubs’ Cup" at the time). Starting from 1992/1993 season the Champions League got its present-day name. The first winner of the European Cup was "Real Madrid" – the final was held at the "Parc des Princes" stadium in Paris. Royal club defeated French "Reims" – 4:3. It is noteworthy that "Real" won the title in the following four years. And the first winner of the Champions League became "Olympic" (Marseille) that defeated AC "Milan" at the Munich "Olympic Stadium" – 1:0.
The 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League final will take place at the "Stadio Olimpico" in Rome. It will be the 4th major European Cup final for the stadium.
"Real Madrid" keeps the record in winning the Champions League and its predecessor - the European Cup. The Royal club has won a record nine titles.
The top goalscorer of the 2006/2007 UEFA Champions League became a Brazilian midfielder of AC "Milan" Kaka. He scored 10 goals. In this season the current top goalscorer is an African forward of "Rosenborg" Yussouf Kone. He has already scored 8 goals.
The Lenin Library is the biggest library in Europe, and the second one in the world – giving way only to the USA Library of Congress.
All the seats in "Luzhniki" are covered by a visor (63.5 metres wide and 15 thousand tons weighing) holding 72 steel bearings (each of them is 26 metres high).
According to Mercer company Moscow is claimed to be the most expensive city in the world. But that’s absolutely not true, because in Mercer research only elite goods and services are analyzed – that are actually not relevant for tourists.
In the 2007/2008 season clubs from dwarf countries Andorra and San-Marino as well as from newly founded Montenegro were allowed to play in the Champions League.
The "Luzhniki" stadium was previously (before the USSR disintegration) called "the Central Lenin Stadium".
Many people think that the "Luzhiki" stadium was constructed specially for the 1980 Olympic games. It’s not true. It was constructed in 1956 and has been repeatedly modernized and reconstructed.
The biggest score in the UEFA Champions League finals was fixed in 1959/1960 season. "Real Madrid" beat "Eintracht" (Germany) – 7:3. The biggest score in modern Champions League finals was fixed in 2004/2005 season, when "Liverpool" defeated AC "Milan" in penalty shootout. Main time of the match ended with 3:3 score.
8:0 - it's the biggest score ever fixed in the Champions League. This record was settled in the current Champions League season: "Liverpool" beat "Besiktas J.K.".
In 1999 the "Luzhniki" hosted another major European Cup final - the UEFA Cup final. "Parma" (Italy) defeated "Olympic" from Marseilles in that match and won the title.
Giorgio Armani shop in Moscow is the biggest shop of the trademark in Europe. Its area is 685.5 square metres.
From the list of teams having entered the knockout stage in this season only "Real", "Milan" and PSV played in the very first season of the Champions League (The European Champion Clubs’ Cup at the time).
Not every club can afford itself to play in the Champions League. For instance, in this season management of "Shelbourne" (Ireland) withdrew from participation in the Champions League due to the financial problems. The vacant place was occupied by the Irish championship runner-up - "Derry City" club.
Moscow will host the 53rd final of the Champions League (excluding 1973/1974 rematch) in this year. In order to get to the final teams had to pass through the preliminary qualifying stages (best clubs of major European championship go to the group stage straightaway), group stage (teams are divided into 8 groups of 4) and knockout rounds starting from 1/8 finals (eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the play-off stage).
The 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League final will take place at the "Stadio Olimpico" in Rome. It will be the 4th major European Cup final for the stadium.
"Real Madrid" keeps the record in winning the Champions League and its predecessor - the European Cup. The Royal club has won a record nine titles.
The top goalscorer of the 2006/2007 UEFA Champions League became a Brazilian midfielder of AC "Milan" Kaka. He scored 10 goals. In this season the current top goalscorer is an African forward of "Rosenborg" Yussouf Kone. He has already scored 8 goals.
The Lenin Library is the biggest library in Europe, and the second one in the world – giving way only to the USA Library of Congress.
All the seats in "Luzhniki" are covered by a visor (63.5 metres wide and 15 thousand tons weighing) holding 72 steel bearings (each of them is 26 metres high).
According to Mercer company Moscow is claimed to be the most expensive city in the world. But that’s absolutely not true, because in Mercer research only elite goods and services are analyzed – that are actually not relevant for tourists.
In the 2007/2008 season clubs from dwarf countries Andorra and San-Marino as well as from newly founded Montenegro were allowed to play in the Champions League.
The "Luzhniki" stadium was previously (before the USSR disintegration) called "the Central Lenin Stadium".
Many people think that the "Luzhiki" stadium was constructed specially for the 1980 Olympic games. It’s not true. It was constructed in 1956 and has been repeatedly modernized and reconstructed.
The biggest score in the UEFA Champions League finals was fixed in 1959/1960 season. "Real Madrid" beat "Eintracht" (Germany) – 7:3. The biggest score in modern Champions League finals was fixed in 2004/2005 season, when "Liverpool" defeated AC "Milan" in penalty shootout. Main time of the match ended with 3:3 score.
8:0 - it's the biggest score ever fixed in the Champions League. This record was settled in the current Champions League season: "Liverpool" beat "Besiktas J.K.".
In 1999 the "Luzhniki" hosted another major European Cup final - the UEFA Cup final. "Parma" (Italy) defeated "Olympic" from Marseilles in that match and won the title.
Giorgio Armani shop in Moscow is the biggest shop of the trademark in Europe. Its area is 685.5 square metres.
From the list of teams having entered the knockout stage in this season only "Real", "Milan" and PSV played in the very first season of the Champions League (The European Champion Clubs’ Cup at the time).
Not every club can afford itself to play in the Champions League. For instance, in this season management of "Shelbourne" (Ireland) withdrew from participation in the Champions League due to the financial problems. The vacant place was occupied by the Irish championship runner-up - "Derry City" club.
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| FC Porto (Portugal) | 1:1 1:4 |
2:1 1:1 |
2:0 1:0 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 8 - 7 | 11 | |
| Liverpool (England) | 4:1 1:1 |
0:1 4:0 |
8:0 1:2 |
3 | 1 | 2 | 18 - 5 | 10 | |
| Marseilles (France) | 1:1 1:2 |
0:4 1:0 |
2:0 1:2 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 6 - 9 | 7 | |
| Besiktas J.K. (Turkey) | 0:1 0:2 |
2:1 0:8 |
2:1 0:2 |
2 | 0 | 4 | 4 - 15 | 6 |
В группе А за первое место борьба разгорелась сразу между Clubми уже по разу выигрывавшими в новом тысячелетии Лигу Чемпионов. Первое место занял «Порту», побеждавший в Лиге Чемпионов сезона 2003/2004. Второе место досталось «Ливерпулю», выигравшему ЛЧ годом позже. За бортом плей-офф оказались марсельский «Олимпик» и турецкий «Бешикташ».
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| FC Chelsea (England) | 2:0 0:0 |
1:1 4:0 |
0:0 2:1 |
3 | 3 | 0 | 9 - 2 | 12 | |
| FC Schalke-04 (Germany) | 0:0 0:2 |
3:1 2:0 |
0:1 0:0 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 5 - 4 | 8 | |
| Rosenborg (Norway) | 0:4 1:1 |
0:2 1:3 |
2:0 2:0 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 6 - 10 | 7 | |
| Valencia C.F. (Spain) | 1:2 0:0 |
0:0 1:0 |
0:2 0:2 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 2 - 6 | 5 |
The biggest surprise in this group turned out to be the relegation of "Valencia": Spanish club won only one game and eventually took the last place. Norwegian "Rosenborg" took the third place and went to the UEFA cup. "FC Schalke-04" outran "Rosenborg" only by one point and qualified for the next stage along with "Chelsea FC".
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| Real Madrid (Spain) | 4:2 0:0 |
2:1 2:3 |
3:1 2:2 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 13 - 9 | 11 | |
| Olympiakos (Greece) | 0:0 2:4 |
3:0 3:1 |
1:1 2:1 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 11 - 7 | 11 | |
| Werder (Germany) | 3:2 1:2 |
1:3 0:3 |
2:1 1:2 |
2 | 0 | 4 | 8 - 13 | 6 | |
| Lazio (Italy) | 2:2 1:3 |
1:2 1:1 |
2:1 1:2 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 8 - 11 | 5 |
This group delegated "Real" (Madrid) and Greek "Olympiakos" to the 1/8 finals – they both won 11 points. And only additional parameters proved Spanish club to be the winner of this group. Equally hard fight unfolded between "Werder" (Bremen) and Italian "Lazio" for the UEFA Cup place – German club outran "Lazio" only by one point and qualified for the UEFA cup.
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| AC Milan (Italy) | 1:0 1:2 |
2:1 1:1 |
4:1 3:0 |
4 | 1 | 1 | 12 - 5 | 13 | |
| Celtic (Scotland) | 2:1 0:1 |
1:0 0:1 |
2:1 0:2 |
3 | 0 | 3 | 5 - 6 | 9 | |
| SL Benfica (Portugal) | 1:1 1:2 |
1:0 0:1 |
0:1 2:1 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 5 - 6 | 7 | |
| Shakhtar (Ukraine) | 0:3 1:4 |
2:0 1:2 |
1:2 1:0 |
2 | 0 | 4 | 6 - 11 | 6 |
"AC Milan" is 4 points clear at the top of the group D. Italian club beat one of the breakthroughs of the season – "Celtic" from Glasgow. After first two rounds "Shakhtar" (Donetsk) was at the top of the group but finally rolled down and even lost the fight for the UEFA Cup place to "Benfica".
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| FC Barcelona (Spain) | 3:0 2:2 |
2:0 0:0 |
3:1 2:0 |
4 | 2 | 0 | 12 - 3 | 14 | |
| Olympique Lyon (France) | 2:2 0:3 |
0:3 3:0 |
4:2 2:0 |
3 | 1 | 2 | 11 - 10 | 10 | |
| Rangers (Scotland) | 0:0 0:2 |
0:3 3:0 |
2:1 2:3 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 7 - 9 | 7 | |
| VfB Stuttgart (Germany) | 0:2 1:3 |
0:2 2:4 |
3:2 1:2 |
1 | 0 | 5 | 7 - 15 | 3 |
"FC Barcelona" proved its claims to the champion’s title having won group E in which also played French "Lyon", "Rangers" (Scotland) and German "Stuttgart" – teams actually took places in this order. The biggest disappointment obviously felt German fans – their club lost 5 matches of 6.
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| Manchester United (England) | 1:0 1:1 |
2:1 1:0 |
4:0 4:2 |
5 | 1 | 0 | 13 - 4 | 16 | |
| AS Roma (Italy) | 1:1 0:1 |
2:1 2:2 |
2:0 4:1 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 11 - 6 | 11 | |
| Sporting (Portugal) | 0:1 1:2 |
2:2 1:2 |
3:0 2:1 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 9 - 8 | 7 | |
| Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine) | 2:4 0:4 |
1:4 0:2 |
1:2 0:3 |
0 | 0 | 6 | 4 - 19 | 0 |
In group F lot brought together teams that played against each other in last-year quarterfinals – "Manchester United" and "AS Roma". Last year "Man Utd" harshly defeated Italian club – 7:1. In this year "Man Utd" have again successfully played against "Roma" – mancunians won the home game and drew the out match. However it didn’t prevent "AS Roma" from qualifying to play-off from the second place. "Man Utd" got to 1/8 finals from the 1st place. UEFA Cup place was taken by "Sporting", and Ukrainian "Dyanmo Kyiv" turned out to be the main loser of the group and of the League in general – they lost their games with overall score 4:19.
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| Inter Milan (Italy) | 3:0 0:1 |
2:0 1:0 |
4:2 2:1 |
5 | 0 | 1 | 12 - 4 | 15 | |
| Fenerbahce (Turkey) | 1:0 0:3 |
2:0 0:0 |
3:1 2:2 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 8 - 6 | 11 | |
| PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) | 0:1 0:2 |
0:0 0:2 |
2:1 1:0 |
2 | 1 | 3 | 3 - 6 | 7 | |
| CSKA (Russia) | 1:2 2:4 |
2:2 1:3 |
0:1 1:2 |
0 | 1 | 5 | 7 - 14 | 1 |
"Inter Milan" gained 15 points from 18 and logically took the first place in group G. Second place was going to be fought for by three clubs at once – Russian "CSKA", Dutch "PSV" and Turkish "Feherbahce". And the Turkish club came as a biggest surprise – "Fenerbahce" gained 11 points and was the only club to beat "Inter". Dutch club qualified for the UEFA Cup and Moscow club didn’t win a single match and was eliminated.
| Club | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | w | d | l | Goals | P |
| FC Sevilla (Spain) | 3:1 0:3 |
4:2 3:0 |
2:1 2:0 |
5 | 0 | 1 | 14 - 7 | 15 | |
| Arsenal (England) | 3:0 1:3 |
7:0 0:0 |
2:1 1:0 |
4 | 1 | 1 | 14 - 4 | 13 | |
| Slavia (the Czech Republlic) | 0:3 2:4 |
0:0 0:7 |
2:1 1:1 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 5 - 16 | 5 | |
| FC Steau (Romania) | 0:2 1:2 |
0:1 1:2 |
1:1 1:2 |
0 | 1 | 5 | 4 - 10 | 1 |
The main fight in group G unfolded between "Arsenal" (London) and "Sevilla". Eventually Spanish club won the first place, Arsen Wenger’s squad lost 2 points to them and qualified from the second place. One of the sensations of this season – "Slavia" (Prague) – took the 3rd place and went to the 1/16 finals of the UEFA Cup. Romanian "Steaua" was eliminated.