The Champions League is the most prestigious continental club tournament in Europe. The competition was founded in 1992, replacing the European Cup and it features a group stage where teams play each other home and away, with the top two progressing to the knockout phase. Third placed clubs are relegated to the Europa League and last place is relegated out of the competition altogether. The tournament is open to any club licensed by their national association that meets sporting, stadium, infrastructure and financial requirements.
Starting this season, the Champions League is expanding from 32 to 36 teams. In addition to the increased number of teams, a major revamp has also been introduced. The group stage is gone, replaced with a league phase in which each team plays eight matches against different opponents. The teams will be ranked in four seeding pots based on their UEFA coefficient and will play two teams from each pot, with one match at home and one away.
The changes are meant to make the tournament more competitive and to increase the likelihood of surprise results. However, history suggests that a re-jigged Champions League is likely to remain dominated by the traditional powerhouses of Europe. Real Madrid currently lead the all-time titles tally with fifteen, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich trailing close behind with nine each. Ajax are next with seven, and a number of other clubs, such as Liverpool and Manchester United (both five), have won multiple titles over the years.
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