The season
The 2000/01 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 17 countries took part, and Bayern Munich won it, beating Valencia in the final.
By our squad ratings, Juventus had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 85. Bayern Munich had only the eighth strongest squad of 32, so their title was a genuine upset on paper. Their opponents in the final, Valencia, rated 82.
Spain sent the most clubs, 4. 8 of the 17 nations in the field had a single representative.
The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Zinedine Zidane of Juventus, a CAM rated 91.
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.
- 1JuventusItaly85
- 2Manchester UnitedEngland85
- 3AC MilanItaly84
- 4FC BarcelonaSpain84
- 5Real MadridSpain84
- 6ArsenalEngland83
- 7SS LazioItaly83
- 8FC Bayern MunichGermany82
The best players in the field
- 1Zinedine ZidaneJuventus · CAM91
- 2Roberto CarlosReal Madrid · LB90
- 3Edwin van der SarJuventus · GK89
- 4Luís FigoReal Madrid · CDM89
- 5Paolo MaldiniAC Milan · CB89
- 6Didier DeschampsValencia · CM88
- 7Oliver KahnFC Bayern Munich · GK88
- 8Ryan GiggsManchester United · CDM88
- 9 RivaldoFC Barcelona · ST87
- 10Bixente LizarazuFC Bayern Munich · RB87
The groups
Replay 2000/01 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.