Five of last season’s champions in Europe’s six major leagues look like defending their titles successfully this season. The exception is Germany where last season’s champions VfB Stuttgart are currently sixth. If the other five win their domestic titles, it will equal the record set in 2005/2006.
Two years ago, it appeared that all six of these countries had repeat champions, but Juventus have since been stripped of both their 2005/2006 title and their title from the season before.
Most champions successfully defending title in major European leagues (since 1963/1964)
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Season | Successful defending champions |
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2005/2006 | FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Olympique Lyon, PSV, Bayern München |
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2007/2008 | Real Madrid, Internazionale, Manchester United, Olympique Lyon, PSV |
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1975/1976 | Real Madrid, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Saint-Etienne, PSV |
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1967/1968 | Real Madrid, Saint-Etienne, Ajax |
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1972/1973 | Juventus, Bayern München, Ajax |
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1979/1980 | Real Madrid, Liverpool, Ajax |
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1982/1983 | Liverpool, Hamburger SV, Ajax |
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1986/1987 | Real Madrid, Bayern München, PSV |
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1989/1990 | Real Madrid, Bayern München, Olympique Marseille |
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1991/1992 | FC Barcelona, Olympique Marseille, PSV |
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1993/1994 | FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Manchester United |
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2000/2001 | Manchester United, Bayern München, PSV |
Leagues included: ENG, ESP, GER, FRA, ITA, NED.
On 2 April 2008, Arsenal host Liverpool in the fifth all-English tie in the Champions League since the competition started in 1992/1993. Liverpool have been involved in the last four, including this one, with one taking place in the group stage. For Arsenal, it is their second all-English tie following a quarterfinals clash with Chelsea in 2003/2004.
No other country has produced as many domestic ties as England’s five.
Spain and Italy have managed three, including a domestic final each. Germany has produced two domestic ties.
Champions League matches between clubs from same nation
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Stage |
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Home | Away |
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Quarterfinals |
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Liverpool (ENG) | Arsenal (ENG) |
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Quarterfinals |
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Arsenal (ENG) | Liverpool (ENG) |
|
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Semifinals |
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Liverpool (ENG) | Chelsea (ENG) |
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|
Semifinals |
|
Chelsea (ENG) | Liverpool (ENG) |
|
|
Group stage |
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Chelsea (ENG) | Liverpool (ENG) |
|
|
Group stage |
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Liverpool (ENG) | Chelsea (ENG) |
|
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Semifinals |
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Liverpool (ENG) | Chelsea (ENG) |
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|
Semifinals |
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Chelsea (ENG) | Liverpool (ENG) |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
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Internazionale (ITA) | AC Milan (ITA) |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
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AC Milan (ITA) | Internazionale (ITA) |
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|
Quarterfinals |
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Arsenal (ENG) | Chelsea (ENG) |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
|
Chelsea (ENG) | Arsenal (ENG) |
|
|
Final |
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AC Milan (ITA) | Juventus (ITA) |
|
|
Semifinals |
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Internazionale (ITA) | AC Milan (ITA) |
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|
Semifinals |
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AC Milan (ITA) | Internazionale (ITA) |
|
|
Semifinals |
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Real Madrid (ESP) | FC Barcelona (ESP) |
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|
Semifinals |
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FC Barcelona (ESP) | Real Madrid (ESP) |
|
|
Final |
|
Real Madrid (ESP) | Valencia CF (ESP) |
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|
Semifinals |
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FC Barcelona (ESP) | Valencia CF (ESP) |
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|
Semifinals |
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Valencia CF (ESP) | FC Barcelona (ESP) |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
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1. FC Kaiserslautern (GER) | Bayern München (GER) |
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|
Quarterfinals |
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Bayern München (GER) | 1. FC Kaiserslautern (GER) |
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|
Quarterfinals |
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Borussia Dortmund (GER) | Bayern München (GER) |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
|
Bayern München (GER) | Borussia Dortmund (GER) |
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Bold denotes team winning knockout tie. OP=On Penalties, AWD=Awarded