The two-group era · Two group stages

Champions Cup 1999/00

Won by Real Madrid against Valencia. 32 clubs, 18 countries.

ChampionsReal MadridSpain · squad rated 83Roberto Carlos · Fernando Hierro · Christian Karembeu
Runners-upValenciaSpain · squad rated 80Santiago Cañizares · Mauricio Pellegrino · Gaizka Mendieta

The season

The 1999/00 competition used the format we call “two group stages”. Eight groups of four, then a second group stage of sixteen clubs before the quarter-finals. 32 clubs from 18 countries took part, and Real Madrid won it, beating Valencia in the final.

By our squad ratings, AC Milan had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 84. Real Madrid had only the seventh strongest squad of 32, so their title was a genuine upset on paper. Their opponents in the final, Valencia, rated 80.

Germany sent the most clubs, 4. 10 of the 18 nations in the field had a single representative.

The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Roberto Carlos of Real Madrid, a LB rated 90.

Thirty-two clubs played eight groups of four. The top two from each went into a second group stage of four groups, and the top two of those reached the two-legged quarter-finals. It was the longest road to the final the competition has had. 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.

  1. 1AC MilanItaly84
  2. 2FC BarcelonaSpain84
  3. 3Manchester UnitedEngland84
  4. 4ArsenalEngland83
  5. 5ChelseaEngland83
  6. 6FC Bayern MunichGermany83
  7. 7Real MadridSpain83
  8. 8SS LazioItaly83

The best players in the field

  1. 1Roberto CarlosReal Madrid · LB90
  2. 2Didier DeschampsChelsea · CM89
  3. 3Oliver KahnFC Bayern Munich · GK89
  4. 4Paolo MaldiniAC Milan · CB89
  5. 5Jens LehmannBorussia Dortmund · GK88
  6. 6Luís FigoFC Barcelona · CDM88
  7. 7Ryan GiggsManchester United · CDM88
  8. 8 RivaldoFC Barcelona · ST87
  9. 9Bixente LizarazuFC Bayern Munich · RB87
  10. 10Dennis BergkampArsenal · ST87

The groups

Group ASS LazioITABayer 04 LeverkusenGERFC Dynamo KyivUKRNK MariborSVN
Group BFC BarcelonaESPArsenalENGACF FiorentinaITAAIK FotbollSWE
Group CBorussia DortmundGERFeyenoordNEDRosenborgNORBoavistaPOR
Group DManchester UnitedENGGNK Dinamo ZagrebCROOlympique de MarseilleFRASK Sturm GrazAUT
Group EReal MadridESPFC PortoPOROlympiacosGREMoldeNOR
Group FFC Bayern MunichGERRangersSCOValenciaESPPSV EindhovenNED
Group GFC Girondins de BordeauxFRAAC Sparta PragueCZEFC Spartak MoscowRUSWillem II TilburgNED
Group HAC MilanITAChelseaENGGalatasarayTURHertha BSCGER

Replay 1999/00 in Magic Nights

In Magic Nights you can take charge of any of these 32 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.

Read the Magic Nights guide or browse every season.

MAGIC NIGHTS · 1999/00

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