The season
The 2020/21 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 Chelsea won it, beating Manchester City in the final.
By our squad ratings, Real Madrid had the strongest squad in the field, with a best eleven averaging 89. Chelsea had only the fifth strongest squad of 32, so their title was a genuine upset on paper. In the final they beat a Manchester City side we rate higher (87 to 86).
England, Germany, Italy and Spain sent the most clubs, 4 each. 8 of the 15 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 BarcelonaSpain87
- 3LiverpoolEngland87
- 4Manchester CityEngland87
- 5ChelseaEngland86
- 6FC Bayern MunichGermany86
- 7Inter MilanItaly86
- 8JuventusItaly86
The best players in the field
- 1 NeymarParis Saint-Germain · CDM91
- 2James RodríguezReal Madrid · CDM90
- 3Kevin De BruyneManchester City · LM90
- 4Paul PogbaManchester United · CM90
- 5Raphaël VaraneReal Madrid · CB90
- 6Thibaut CourtoisReal Madrid · GK90
- 7Thomas MüllerFC Bayern Munich · CAM90
- 8Antoine GriezmannFC Barcelona · ST89
- 9David de GeaManchester United · GK89
- 10Jérôme BoatengFC Bayern Munich · CB89
The groups
Replay 2020/21 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.