The Champions League - UEFA Champions League

The European Football Championships is the annual football tournament of the European Football Confederation for high ranked clubs in the ...

The European Football Championships is the annual football tournament of the European Football Confederation for high ranked clubs in the European Championship. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and is home to some of the biggest clubs in Europe, often champions of each domestic league (and, for some countries, Maybe one or a few clubs are behind. The 2012-13 season is the most watched match in the UEFA Champions League, and is also the most watched sporting event in the world in 2013, with 360 million viewers television waves.

Originally introduced in 1992, the tournament was launched to replace the European Champion Clubs' Cup, or simply the European Cup, which has taken place since 1955. The new tournament has an extra round table and allows many clubs from the same country to participate. Prior to 1992, the tournament had only knockout matches and only allowed the national championship teams to participate. In the 1990s, the format of the competition was extended with the addition of a round table of two rounds, along with allowing the teams from the highest ranked tournaments to be allowed to participate. Currently, while most European countries still have champions in the domestic league are allowed to participate, leading European tournaments are allowed to send up to four championships, and can represent up to five representatives starting in the 2015-16 season. National finals that are not eligible for the UEFA Champions League may qualify for the lower-level UEFA Europa League.

Under the current format, the UEFA Champions League will be kicked off in mid-July with three qualifiers and a play-off round. The final 10 teams will advance to the group stage, along with 22 other teams who have qualified to be in the squad. The 32 teams will be divided into eight teams, each with four teams, competing in two rounds. The top eight teams and eight second-placed teams will enter the qualifying round, until the last two teams qualify for the final, usually in late May. Champions of the UEFA Champions League will be allowed to attend the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Real Madrid is the most successful club in the history of the tournament with 12 wins, including the first five European Cups. Spain is also the most crowned champion (16 times), followed by Italy and England (12 times per country). 22 different clubs have championed this league, 12 of which have championed more than once. In 2016, Real Madrid took the 11th place in the history of the club, beating Atlético Madrid 5-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in the 120th minute of the final in San Siro, Milano. In 2017, Real Madrid entered the Champions League history by becoming the first club to successfully defend the title since the 1992 renamed league after beating Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff, Wales.