July 15, 2008 - May 27, 2009
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Europe
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Overview of the UEFA Champions League
The 2008-2009 Champions League is an annual football competition that decides the titleholder of the best club in Europe. The tournament pits the best league clubs from all European countries against each other for a series that lasts for 9 months. The final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. It is going to be the eighth time the European Cup final will be played in Italy and the fourth time it will be held at the Stadio Olimpico. Manchester United are the defending champions, having won the trophy the previous season.
Champions League Tournament Dates
First Qualifying Round is played in July, 2008 the final will be played on May 27 in Rome.
Champions League Qualification
In Champions League qualification, there are three qualifying rounds to determine which clubs make it into the final round of 16. The the first qualification there are the champions of countries ranked 23 or lower. In the second round there are 15 winners of QR1, champions of 16-22 countries in UEFA ranking, 6 runners-up from countries 10-15.
The third and last qualifying round includes 14 winners of QR2, 6 champions of countries 10-15, 3 runners-up from countries 7-9, third-placed teams from countries 4-6, third-placed and fourth-placed from country 1-3.
Then the Group Stage starts. There are 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4, including: 16 winners of QR3, champions from countries 7-9, champions and runners-up from countries 1-6, 1 title holder (if the title holder are already qualified, champions of country no. 10 is qualified, and so on: the champion of the 16th country will gain direct access to the 3rd qualifying round, champions from countries 23-24 will gain access to the 2nd qualifying round).
Winners and runners-up of each Group are qualified for the knockout stages, with a two legged game (home and away). In the Last 16 stage, the eight Group winners are drawn against the eight runners-up, teams from same country or from same group cannot be drawn together. After that, quarter-finals and semifinals (free draw, two legs), and a final in a single match, in neutral field, determining the UEFA Champions League winner.
The final match will be played on neutral ground at Stadio Olimpico of Rome.
UCL Qualification Requirements
Four teams (current champion, runner-up, third and fourth placed) from countries in position 1-3 of UEFA ranking, three teams from countries 4-6 of UEFA ranking, two teams from countries ranked 7-15, one team (only the Champions) from the remaining member-nations of UEFA.
Competition Format of the UCL
For the Groups, the following criteria apply: points, points obtained, goal difference or goal scored in the matches among the teams with same points, general goal difference, general goal scored, higher coefficient in the previous five seasons.
For the knockout stages, the team that scores more goals in the aggregate gets through. In case of draw, the team that has score more goals away wins (away goal rule). If there is still a tie, two extra times of 15 minutes each, and, again, if there is a tie there are the penalty shootouts.
Champions League ocation and Venues
The Champions League is played at the clubs' home stadiums, except for the final match. In the Group stages, each team plays one match at each other's home venue, the matches are played over a two week period, usually a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Only the final is played in a single match in a venue determined by the UEFA. In 2007-2008 season, the final will be held in the Stadio Olimpico of Rome.
Ticket Availability
Official Sponsors
MasterCard, Heineken
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