The season
The 1997/98 competition used the format we call “twenty-four clubs in six groups”. Six groups of four; winners and the best runners-up reached the quarter-finals. 24 clubs from 15 countries took part, and Real Madrid won it, beating Juventus in the final.
By our squad ratings, Juventus had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 84. Real Madrid were the second strongest squad: among the favourites, if not the clear one. Their opponents in the final, Juventus, rated 84.
Germany sent the most clubs, 3. 7 of the 15 nations in the field had a single representative.
The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Didier Deschamps of Juventus, a CM rated 89.
Twenty-four clubs played in six groups of four. The six group winners and the two best runners-up went into two-legged quarter-finals, then semi-finals and a final. Ties level on aggregate were decided by away goals, then extra time and penalties.
The strongest squads
Our rating for each club is the average of its best eleven players that season, on the scale the game uses.
- 1JuventusItaly84
- 2Real MadridSpain84
- 3FC BarcelonaSpain83
- 4FC Bayern MunichGermany83
- 5Manchester UnitedEngland83
- 6Parma Calcio 1913Italy82
- 7Newcastle UnitedEngland81
- 8Borussia DortmundGermany80
The best players in the field
- 1Didier DeschampsJuventus · CM89
- 2Oliver KahnFC Bayern Munich · GK89
- 3Zinedine ZidaneJuventus · CAM89
- 4Roberto CarlosReal Madrid · LB88
- 5Alan ShearerNewcastle United · RW87
- 6Antonio ConteJuventus · CM87
- 7Bixente LizarazuFC Bayern Munich · RB87
- 8Fabio CannavaroParma Calcio 1913 · CB87
- 9Lilian ThuramParma Calcio 1913 · RB87
- 10Davor ŠukerReal Madrid · RW86
The groups
Replay 1997/98 in Magic Nights
In Magic Nights you can take charge of any of these 24 clubs, with the squad they had that season, and play the competition in this exact format. Win it with the favourites, or try the hardest job in the game: lifting the trophy with a club from the bottom half of the field.