The European Cup was revamped in 1992 and rebranded because the Champions League.
A brand new format was introduced in and step by step, qualification modified to incorporate the highest three or 4 groups from Europe’s greatest leagues.
Beforehand, solely the champions from every European nation had featured, together with the earlier winner if that staff had not additionally topped their home league.
However the first version of the Champions League was not a lot totally different by way of the qualification. The format modified, although, with two knockout rounds, then a gaggle stage and a remaining fixture performed between the winners of these two sectors.
Right here, a take a look at the golf equipment that made it to the final 16 within the first-ever Champions League…
Sion
Sion’s Jean-Paul Brigger celebrates the Swiss aspect’s title win in Might 1992. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Sion certified for the 1992/93 Champions League as champions of Switzerland and went on to make the second spherical.
After a 7-2 mixture win over Ukrainian aspect Tavriya Simferopol within the first spherical, Sion went out 6-2 to Porto over two legs within the final 16.
Lech Poznań
Common view of the Lech Poznan stadium forward of a recreation in opposition to Rangers in December 2020. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Lech Poznań beat Latvian aspect Skonto over two legs within the first spherical of the inaugural Champions League.
The Polish champions have been properly crushed within the final 16 of the continental competitors, although, happening 4-0 on mixture to IFK Göteborg.
Slovan Bratislava
Common view of the Slovan Bratislava stadium forward of a Champions League recreation in opposition to VfB Stuttgart in January 2025. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Slovakia’s most profitable membership, Slovan Bratislava certified for the inaugural Champions League as winners of the outdated Czezhoslovakian championship in 1991/92.
After a 4-1 mixture win over Ferencváros within the first spherical, Slovan have been properly crushed by eventual finalists AC Milan over two legs within the final 16, dropping 1-0 at dwelling and 4-0 at San Siro.
Dinamo Bucharest
Dinamo Bucharest followers throughout a match in opposition to Steaua Bucharest in February 2020. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Dinamo Bucharest wanted additional time to beat Finnish aspect Kuusysi 2-1 on mixture within the first spherical of the Champions League in 1992/93.
Within the second spherical, the Romanian champions held Marseille to a 0-0 draw at dwelling, however misplaced the return match 2-0 to the eventual winners on the Stade Vélodrome.
AEK Athens
AEK Athens in motion in opposition to Ajax within the Champions League in December 1994. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
AEK Athens edged out Cypriot aspect APOEL on away objectives within the first spherical of the Champions League in 1992/93 after a 1-1 draw within the Greek capital and a 2-2 tie in Nicosia.
Within the second spherical, AEK beat PSV 1-0 within the first leg, however went down 3-0 within the return as Romário scored a hat-trick for the Dutch champions.
Austria Wien
Austria Wien staff picture in 1992. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Austria Wien performed in two thrilling ties within the 1992/93 Champions League.
The Vienna aspect edged out CSKA Sofia 5-4 over two legs within the first spherical, however went out to Membership Brugge on away objectives regardless of a 3-1 second-leg win in Belgium within the final 16.
Leeds United
Leeds United gamers rejoice their First Division title triumph in Might 1992. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Leeds United received the First Division title in 1991/92 within the remaining yr of the competitors in its outdated format, with the Premier League launched in 1992/93.
The Champions League got here in that season, too, and Leeds have been England’s sole consultant. However after beating VfB Stuttgart 2-1 in a play-off within the first spherical, the Whites misplaced 4-2 on mixture to Rangers in a tie billed because the “Battle of Britain”.
Barcelona
Barcelona in motion in opposition to Austria Wien within the Champions League in November 1993. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Barcelona beat Sampdoria at Wembley in Might 1992 to win the last-ever European Cup.
Again within the revamped competitors the next season, Johan Cruyff’s aspect kicked off their Champions League marketing campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Norwegian outfit Viking over two legs and suffered a shock exit by the hands of CSKA Moscow after a 3-2 loss at Camp Nou and 4-3 mixture defeat to the Russian aspect.
PSV
Romario celebrates a objective for PSV in 1992. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
PSV thrashed Lithuanian aspect FK Žalgiris 8-0 over two legs within the first spherical of the Champions League in 1992/93, earlier than beating AEK Athens 3-1 to advance to the group part.
The Dutch aspect drew 2-2 away at Porto of their first recreation, however misplaced their different 5 fixtures to AC Milan, IFK Göteborg and the Portuguese aspect. Regardless of these outcomes, Romário nonetheless completed because the event’s prime scorer with seven objectives.
CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow in motion in opposition to Rangers at Ibrox within the Champions League in April 1993. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
After beating Icelandic membership Víkingur 5-2 over two legs within the first spherical, CSKA Moscow shocked defending champions Barcelona within the final 16 of the inaugural Champions League.
The Russian aspect received 3-2 at Camp Nou to eradicate Johan Cruyff’s aspect in a 4-3 mixture victory. Within the group part, CSKA didn’t fare so properly, ending backside of Group A with simply two factors from their six video games.
Membership Brugge
Membership Brugge (in blue and black) in motion in opposition to Marseille within the Champions League in April 1993. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Membership Brugge made it to the group stage of the inaugural Champions League after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 on mixture within the first spherical after which edging out Austria Wien on away objectives.
The Belgian aspect completed third in Group A, coming in behind Marseille and Rangers after two wins, a draw and three defeats from their six video games.
Porto
Porto goalkeeper Vitor Baia throughout a Champions League recreation in opposition to AC Milan in March 1993. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
European Cup winners in 1987, Porto made it to the group phases within the inaugural version of the Champions League six years later.
After knocking out Union Luxembourg and Swiss aspect Sion within the first two rounds, Porto got here in third in Group B behind AC Milan and IFK Göteborg, with two wins, a draw and three losses from their six video games.
IFK Göteborg
IFK Goteborg followers throughout a recreation in opposition to Kalmar FF in October 2015. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
UEFA Cup winners in 1982 and 1987, IFK Göteborg repeatedly featured within the latter rounds of European competitions within the Eighties and Nineties.
Edged out on penalties by Barcelona within the European Cup semi-finals in 1986, the Swedish aspect completed second in Group B behind AC Milan within the group stage of the inaugural Champions League in 1992/93, successful three and dropping three because the Rossoneri superior with six victories out of six.
Rangers
Ally McCoist seems dejected after Rangers are held by CSKA Moscow within the Champions League in April 1993. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
It might appear unbelievable now, however Rangers got here fairly shut to creating it to the Champions League remaining again in 1993.
The Glasgow giants knocked out English champions Leeds United within the second spherical and went unbeaten via the competitors, however completed second in Group A behind eventual winners Marseille and missed out on a spot within the remaining by only a level. Marseille, 1-0 winners away to Membership Brugge of their final group recreation, have been later stripped of their Ligue 1 title attributable to a match-fixing scandal and former Rangers striker Mark Hateley has since stated he was supplied cash to not play in opposition to the French aspect within the groups’ penultimate group recreation.
AC Milan
AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini challenges Marseille’s Abedi Pele within the 1993 Champions League remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
AC Milan received the European Cup in 1989 and 1990 and the Rossoneri have been again within the remaining within the inaugural version of the Champions League in Might 1993.
Edged out by Marseille in a disappointing 1-0 loss in Munich, Milan went on to win the Champions League the next yr, beating Barcelona 4-0 within the remaining in Athens. The 1993 remaining was Marco van Basten’s last-ever recreation as an expert footballer because the Dutch striker spent the subsequent two years unsuccessfully making an attempt to get better from an ankle damage.
Marseille
Marseille gamers rejoice their European Cup remaining win over AC Milan in Might 1993. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
After dropping out to Purple Star Belgrade on penalties within the remaining of the European Cup in 1991, Marseille went one higher in 1993.
Basile Boli scored the one objective of the sport as OM beat Milan 1-0 at Munich’s Olympiastadion to grow to be the primary French staff to win Europe’s premier membership competitors. Marseille have been unable to defend their title the next season, nonetheless, after being stripped of their Ligue 1 crown and demoted to France’s second tier attributable to their involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
