The season
The 2009/10 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 18 countries took part, and Inter Milan won it, beating Bayern Munich in the final.
By our squad ratings, FC Barcelona had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 88. Inter Milan had only the sixth strongest squad of 32, so their title was a genuine upset on paper. Their opponents in the final, Bayern Munich, rated 86.
England, Italy and Spain sent the most clubs, 4 each. 12 of the 18 nations in the field had a single representative.
The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Kaká of Real Madrid, a CAM 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.
- 1FC BarcelonaSpain88
- 2ChelseaEngland87
- 3Manchester UnitedEngland87
- 4Real MadridSpain87
- 5FC Bayern MunichGermany86
- 6Inter MilanItaly86
- 7LiverpoolEngland86
- 8AC MilanItaly85
The best players in the field
- 1 KakáReal Madrid · CAM90
- 2 RonaldinhoAC Milan · RW90
- 3Daniel AlvesFC Barcelona · LB90
- 4Frank LampardChelsea · CM90
- 5Gianluigi BuffonJuventus · GK90
- 6Iker CasillasReal Madrid · GK90
- 7John TerryChelsea · CB90
- 8Nemanja VidićManchester United · CB90
- 9Steven GerrardLiverpool · LM90
- 10Xavi HernándezFC Barcelona · CM90
The groups
Replay 2009/10 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.