The season
The 2019/20 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 16 countries took part, and Bayern Munich won it, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
By our squad ratings, Real Madrid had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 89. Bayern Munich were the third strongest squad: among the favourites, if not the clear one. Their opponents in the final, Paris Saint-Germain, rated 86.
England, Germany, Italy and Spain sent the most clubs, 4 each. 9 of the 16 nations in the field had a single representative.
The highest-rated player in the competition, by our estimates, was Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain, 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.
- 1Real MadridSpain89
- 2FC BarcelonaSpain88
- 3FC Bayern MunichGermany87
- 4LiverpoolEngland87
- 5ChelseaEngland86
- 6JuventusItaly86
- 7Manchester CityEngland86
- 8Paris Saint-GermainFrance86
The best players in the field
- 1 NeymarParis Saint-Germain · CDM91
- 2Gareth BaleReal Madrid · CDM90
- 3James RodríguezReal Madrid · CDM90
- 4Jérôme BoatengFC Bayern Munich · CB90
- 5Jordi AlbaFC Barcelona · LB90
- 6Kevin De BruyneManchester City · LM90
- 7Thibaut CourtoisReal Madrid · GK90
- 8Thomas MüllerFC Bayern Munich · CAM90
- 9Antoine GriezmannFC Barcelona · ST89
- 10Lionel MessiFC Barcelona · ST89
The groups
Replay 2019/20 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.