The season
The 2013/14 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 Real Madrid won it, beating Atlético Madrid in the final.
By our squad ratings, FC Barcelona had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 88. Real Madrid had only the seventh strongest squad of 32, so their title was a genuine upset on paper. Their opponents in the final, Atlético Madrid, rated 85.
England, Germany and Spain sent the most clubs, 4 each. 11 of the 18 nations in the field had a single representative.
The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Andrés Iniesta of FC Barcelona, a CDM rated 91.
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
- 2FC Bayern MunichGermany88
- 3ArsenalEngland87
- 4ChelseaEngland87
- 5Manchester CityEngland87
- 6Manchester UnitedEngland87
- 7Real MadridSpain87
- 8JuventusItaly86
The best players in the field
- 1Andrés IniestaFC Barcelona · CDM91
- 2Philipp LahmFC Bayern Munich · RB91
- 3 KakáAC Milan · CAM90
- 4Arjen RobbenFC Bayern Munich · CAM90
- 5Daniel AlvesFC Barcelona · LB90
- 6Lionel MessiFC Barcelona · ST90
- 7Lukas PodolskiArsenal · CDM90
- 8Manuel NeuerFC Bayern Munich · GK90
- 9 PepeReal Madrid · CB89
- 10Álvaro ArbeloaReal Madrid · LB89
The groups
Replay 2013/14 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.