The season
The 2007/08 competition used the format we call “eight groups, then knockouts”. Eight groups of four, then two-legged knockout rounds from the last sixteen. 32 clubs from 15 countries took part, and Manchester United won it, beating Chelsea in the final.
By our squad ratings, Chelsea had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 88. Manchester United had only the sixth strongest squad of 32, so their title was a genuine upset on paper. In the final they beat a Chelsea side we rate higher (88 to 86).
England, Italy and Spain sent the most clubs, 4 each. 6 of the 15 nations in the field had a single representative.
The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Ronaldinho of FC Barcelona, a RW rated 90.
Thirty-two clubs played eight groups of four, home and away. The top two from each group went into the round of sixteen, and from there every tie was played over two legs until the single-match 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.
- 1ChelseaEngland88
- 2FC BarcelonaSpain88
- 3AC MilanItaly86
- 4Inter MilanItaly86
- 5LiverpoolEngland86
- 6Manchester UnitedEngland86
- 7Real MadridSpain86
- 8ArsenalEngland84
The best players in the field
- 1 RonaldinhoFC Barcelona · RW90
- 2 RonaldoAC Milan · ST90
- 3Francesco TottiAS Roma · ST90
- 4Frank LampardChelsea · CM90
- 5Steven GerrardLiverpool · LM90
- 6Xavi HernándezFC Barcelona · CM90
- 7Andrea PirloAC Milan · CAM89
- 8Iker CasillasReal Madrid · GK89
- 9John TerryChelsea · CB89
- 10Michael BallackChelsea · CDM89
The groups
Replay 2007/08 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.