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Soccer Betting - UEFA Champions League
History - Facts - Winners - Teams - 2009/10 Calendar
The competition began in 1955/56 using the format in which the teams would play two matches, one at home and one away and the team with the highest overall score qualifying for the next round of the UEFA Champions competition. The first UEFA Champions League Cup fixture was played in Lisbon and Sporting Clube de Portugal were held to a 3-3 draw by FK Partizan. The UEFA Champions League was originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup.
Entry to the UEFA Champions League was restricted to the teams that won their national league championships, plus the current European Cup holder. This qualification system continued until 1997. From the 1997/98 season, the rules changed to provide the UEFA Champions League with additional exposure and more exciting. Teams other than national champions were allowed to compete in the UEFA Champions League. As a result, the system was restructured to force weaker national champions to qualify for the group stages, while stronger national runners-up would automatically get places in the UEFA Champions League.
The UEFA Champions League competition is organized and run annually in a similar manner to the Copa Libertadores in South America.
Real Madrid CF won the first five finals of the UEFA Champions League; other clubs like the AFC Ajax and the FC Bayern München have achieved three consecutive wins. Madrid's win in 1998 was their first in 32 years and Bayern's penalty shoot-out success in Milan back in 2001 ended a 26-year wait for their fourth victory in the UEFA League.
The major turning point in the evolution of the UEFA Champions League competition came in the 1992/93 season when the UEFA Champions League, was officially inaugurated after a pilot group stage during the previous season.
The popularity of the UEFA Champions League group phase has witnessed the competition grow from 8 to 32 teams. The UEFA Champions has become one of the most expected soccer competitions around the world.
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Football Betting
SPORTS EVENTS:
SPORTS BETTING:
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