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The UEFA Champions League, which evolved from the European Champion Clubs' Cup, is a seasonal club football competition organised by UEFA since 1992 (or overall in its older format since 1955) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. The prize, the European Champion Clubs' Cup (more commonly known as the European Cup), is one of the most prestigious club trophies in the sport. The UEFA Champions League is separate from the UEFA Cup.
The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds. The 16 surviving teams join 16 seeded teams in a group stage. Eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout rounds, which end with the final match in May. Previously only the champions of their respective national league could participate in the competition; however, this was changed in 1997 to allow the runners-up of the stronger leagues to compete as well.
The title has been held by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holder is Real Madrid with their nine wins.
The current holders are Manchester United who beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties, 1-1 after extra time, in Moscow on 21 May 2008.
The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds. The 16 surviving teams join 16 seeded teams in a group stage. Eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout rounds, which end with the final match in May. Previously only the champions of their respective national league could participate in the competition; however, this was changed in 1997 to allow the runners-up of the stronger leagues to compete as well.
The title has been held by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holder is Real Madrid with their nine wins.
The current holders are Manchester United who beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties, 1-1 after extra time, in Moscow on 21 May 2008.
The UEFA Champions League 2008–09 is the 54th edition of Europe's premier club football tournament and the 17th edition under the current UEFA Champions League format. The final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. It is the eighth time the European Cup final has been held in Italy and the fourth time it has been held at the Stadio Olimpico. Manchester United are the defending champions, having won the trophy the previous season.
The Teams for The UEFA Champions League - 2008/2009
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Barcelona
5. Arsenal
6. Lyon
7. Internazionale
8. Real Madrid
9. Bayern Munich
10. PSV Eindhoven
11. Villareal
12. Roma
13. Porto
14. Werder Bremen
15. Sporting Lisbon
16. Juventus
17. Marseille
18. Zenit St. Petersburg
19. Steaua
20. Panathinaikos
21. Bordeaux
22. Celtic
23. Basel
24. Fenerbahçe
25. Shakhtar Donetsk
26. Fiorentina
27. Athletico Madrid
28. Dynamo Kyiv
29. CFR Cluj
30. Aalborg BK
31. Anorthosis
32. BATE
Opening Matchday 1 Fixtures - 16th & 17th September, 2008
Matchday 1 - 16 September 2008
A Chelsea vs Bordeaux
A Roma vs CFR
B Panathinaikos vs Internazionale
B Bremen vs Anorthosis
C Basel vs Shakhtar
C Barcelona vs Sporting
D PSV vs Atlético
D Marseille vs Liverpool
Matchday 1 - 17 September 2008
E Man. United vs Villarreal
E Celtic vs AaB
F FC Steaua Bucureşti vs Bayern
F Lyon vs Fiorentina
G Porto vs Fenerbahçe
G Dynamo Kyiv vs Arsenal
H Juventus vs Zenit
H Real Madrid vs BATE
