The Champions League is considered the most prestigious club competition in world football, bringing together the best teams from across Europe. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the key teams to watch in the current season, including their past performances in this tournament.
Winning the Champions League is a mark of excellence that sets a team apart from the rest. The Champions League is also incredibly lucrative, with teams that reach the later stages earning millions of euros in prize money and sponsorship deals. Furthermore, it is broadcast in over 200 countries around the world, making it one of the most widely watched sporting events on the planet.
Now that we know the 8 qualified teams and the quarter-final, semi-final and final draws (Benfica, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid), let’s learn a little more about the numbers related to each of these teams.
Benfica
Benfica is one of the most successful clubs in Portuguese football history, having won 37 Primeira Liga titles. They have won the trophy twice and reached the European Cup/Champions League final on seven occasions, most recently in 1990.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is one of the most successful teams in German football history, having won 31 Bundesliga titles. They have won the Champions League six times, most recently in 2020.
Chelsea
Although Chelsea have only won six Premier League titles, they have won the Champions League twice, with their most recent victory in 2021.
Internazionale
Inter Milan is one of the most successful teams in Italian football history, having won 19 Serie A titles. They have won the Champions League three times, most recently in 2010. The match was won by Inter Milan , who beat Bayern Munich by 2–0 to complete the “treble” , a feat never before achieved by any team from either Italy or Germany.
Manchester City
Like Chelsea, Manchester City only have a few Premier League titles: 4. Even so, they are one of the favorites to win the competition, led by the fearsome Norwegian forward Erling Haaland.
Milan
AC Milan is one of the most successful teams in Italian football history, having won 18 Serie A titles. They have won the Champions League seven times, most recently in 2007, beating Liverpool (2-1) .
Napoli
What a formidable season Napoli is having. They are the undisputed leaders in the Italian league and now in the quarter-finals of the biggest European football competition. They have won two Serie A titles and reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2017-18.
Real Madrid
What can we say? Real Madrid is the most successful team in Champions League history, having won the competition a record 14 times (!). Their most recent victory came in 2018.
