The two-group era · Two group stages

Champions Cup 2001/02

Won by Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen. 32 clubs, 15 countries.

ChampionsReal MadridSpain · squad rated 85Zinedine Zidane · Roberto Carlos · Luís Figo
Runners-upBayer LeverkusenGermany · squad rated 82Michael Ballack · Hans-Jörg Butt · Zé Roberto

The season

The 2001/02 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 15 countries took part, and Real Madrid won it, beating Bayer Leverkusen in the final.

By our squad ratings, Juventus had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 85. Real Madrid were the third strongest squad: among the favourites, if not the clear one. Their opponents in the final, Bayer Leverkusen, rated 82.

Germany and Spain sent the most clubs, 4 each. 5 of the 15 nations in the field had a single representative.

The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid, 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.

  1. 1JuventusItaly85
  2. 2Manchester UnitedEngland85
  3. 3Real MadridSpain85
  4. 4ArsenalEngland84
  5. 5AS RomaItaly84
  6. 6SS LazioItaly84
  7. 7FC BarcelonaSpain83
  8. 8FC Bayern MunichGermany83

The best players in the field

  1. 1Zinedine ZidaneReal Madrid · CAM91
  2. 2Roberto CarlosReal Madrid · LB90
  3. 3Lilian ThuramJuventus · RB89
  4. 4Luís FigoReal Madrid · CDM89
  5. 5Ryan GiggsManchester United · CDM89
  6. 6Oliver KahnFC Bayern Munich · GK88
  7. 7 CafuAS Roma · LB87
  8. 8 RivaldoFC Barcelona · ST87
  9. 9Diego SimeoneSS Lazio · CAM87
  10. 10Fabien BarthezManchester United · GK87

The groups

Group AReal MadridESPAS RomaITAFC Lokomotiv MoscowRUSRSC AnderlechtBEL
Group BLiverpoolENGBorussia DortmundGERFC Dynamo KyivUKRBoavistaPOR
Group CArsenalENGPanathinaikosGREFC Schalke 04GERRCD MallorcaESP
Group DSS LazioITAPSV EindhovenNEDGalatasarayTURFC NantesFRA
Group EJuventusITAFC PortoPORCelticSCORosenborgNOR
Group FFC BarcelonaESPBayer 04 LeverkusenGEROlympique LyonnaisFRAFenerbahçeTUR
Group GManchester UnitedENGDeportivo de La CoruñaESPOlympiacosGRELille OSCFRA
Group HFC Bayern MunichGERFeyenoordNEDAC Sparta PragueCZEFC Spartak MoscowRUS

Replay 2001/02 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 · 2001/02

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