The Champions League reaches its peak. The premier continental championship faces its final match of the season, and it is expected to be an amazing event. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will face off in London with one goal in mind: to lift the trophy that crowns champions of this prestigious tournament.
The competition, famous and highly respected throughout the Old Continent and around the world, It was founded in 1955 and witnessed many clubs from European countries obtaining this title. With the prestige, and the riches that come with it lately.
Champions League or European Cup?
There are many important details to consider about this competition organized by UEFA, Formerly known as the European Cup, it changed its name and format in 1992 to become the Champions League we know today.
Although it is effectively the same competition, the European Cup refers to versions from its inception in the 1955–56 season until the 1991–92 season. Since then, it has become known as the Champions League and has had some modifications since then. The first edition under this new name was won by Marseille, who defeated Milan 1-0 in the final.
Why was the name changed from the European Cup to the Champions League?
The reason for the name change was primarily to restructure the competition starting that year. However, changes were gradually introduced over several seasons until the current form was achieved.
One of the most important differences between the two formats is that The European Cup was only played by the champions of each national league, While from 1997 onwards, more teams from each country began to participate, expanding the final stage from 16 to 24 clubs. This is why we now see multiple teams from the same country in the draw for different stages of the competition. Currently, 32 teams are competing, and As of the 2024/25 season, this number will expand to 36 teams.
