Champions League 2008

Overview

The UEFA 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 finalists for the 2007 - 2008 Champions League are Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC.

Dates

First Qualifying Round is played in July, the final will be played on May 21 in Moscow.

Qualification Process

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 Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

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

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.

Location 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.

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 Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Finals Ticket Availability

UEFA Champions League finals tickets are hard to get, with two English teams in the final - a CSL first. The demand from English citizens, who won't be traveling to the Euro, in addition to all the Russian fans that support Chelsea, are making these tickets difficult to find. OleOle has Champions League final tickets and ticket and travel packages.

Russian Visas - the Russian government has announced that travelers with a valid UEFA Champions League ticket do not need a Russian visa.

This is a result of talks with UEFA on the matter, and allows supporters to arrive for the game in time, from 17 - 25 May. Visitors must show a passport and valid ticket upon entrance AND exit from the country.

For more information: Russian National Tourist Office

Official Sponsors

UEFA

Important Links