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The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is by far the most prestigious tournament in Europe. Every team worth their salt want to bring the Ol’ Big Ears home, but only a few teams have been successful in their endeavors.
Today’s list, however, is not about finding the teams that have bagged the most UCL trophies. It is about finding teams that have consistently picked up crucial wins and draws.
Today, we’ll rank the five teams with the most points in Champions League history, had the tournament followed the “three points for a win” system.
Special note: Every win fetches three points, draws one point, and defeats zero points.
Stats via: OneFootball
#5 Juventus (2 titles) – 518 points
Italy has its fair share of high-profile football clubs, but none have been more consistent than Juventus in the Champions League.
AC Milan, with seven UCL titles, are the most successful Italian club in the tournament’s history. Inter Milan sit in second place with three wins, yet their points tally surprisingly falls short of Juventus, who have only won two titles.
The Old Lady made their UCL or European Cup (as it was called back in the day) debut in the 1958-59 season, but were knocked out in the first round itself. Their first appearance in the final was in the 1972-73 campaign, but Ajax got the better of them on the night, nicking a 1-0 win.
Through consistent efforts, they improved their team and bagged their first UCL in the 1984-85 season. Juve beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final to take home the grand prize.
Their second triumph came 11 years later in the 1995-96 season. They beat Ajax on penalties, exerting revenge for the heartbreak they had endured 23 years prior.
Juventus have never won the Champions League in its current format, which is surprising for a team of their caliber. They did manage to make it to two finals recently (2014-15, 2016-17), but were beaten by Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.
#4 Manchester United (3 titles) – 524 points
Premier League giants Manchester United are arguably the most popular team in Europe. Historically, they have always attracted the biggest stars, played an engaging brand of football, and have won the most prestigious trophies.
Yes, they have been going through a rough patch lately. But that has not yet taken a toll on their popularity.
The Red Devils’ first dalliance with the Champions League came in the 1956-1957 season. Unfortunately, they fell in front of a red-hot Real Madrid in the semi-final and eventually crashed out of the competition.
11 years later, in their fourth attempt, they emerged victorious, beating Benfica 4-1 in the final of the 1967-68 season. They had to endure a 30-year waiting period to get their hands on their second UCL title.
In the 1998-99 season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's heroic last-gasp winner beat Bayern Munich in the final.
Their only Champions League triumph in the 21st century came in the 2007-08 season. The Red Devils beat Premier League rivals Chelsea on penalties to snatch the trophy.
#3 Barcelona (5 titles) – 639 points
Five-time Champions League winners Barcelona first competed in the tournament back in the 1959-60 season. They found their way into the semi-finals where they were thoroughly beaten by arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Having a hard time qualifying for the tournament, it took them 32 years to find their first Champions League title. They beat Sampdoria in the final of the 1991-92 season to bring the cup to the Camp Nou for the first time.
Their remaining four tiles have come in the last couple of decades itself. They won the elite cup in 2005-06 under Frank Rijkaard, then a couple (2008-09, 2010-11) under Pep Guardiola, and lastly in 2014-15 under Luis Enrique.
#2 Bayern Munich (6 titles) – 718 points
German champions Bayern Munich are arguably the most dependable team in the history of the Champions League. They rarely go out in the early stages, have a penchant for scoring goals, and rarely offer dull moments.
The Bavarians are a lean and mean winning machine, and Europe cherishes them for it.
The German outfit’s first UCL or European Cup appearance came in the 1969-70 season. They were knocked out in the first round itself by St. Etienne, but pledged to come back stronger.
Their first triumph came four seasons later, when they beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in a replay of the final. They defended their European crown over the next two seasons, which helped put German football on the global map.
Bayern have won their remaining three UCL titles in the 21st century itself, with their victories coming in the 2000-01, 2012-13, and 2019-20 seasons, respectively.
#1 Real Madrid (13 titles) – 892 points
To no one’s surprise, La Liga giants Real Madrid top this list, winning the race by a country mile. Having won 13 Champions League titles in their history, Los Blancos are by far the most decorated club in the history of the competition.
Los Merengues’ first Champions League appearance came in the 1955-56 season. They beat Reims in the final to bag their first European Cup. They defended their title over the next four seasons, becoming the first team in history to win the Champions League for five consecutive seasons.
Even in the tournament’s modern format, Real Madrid have emerged leaps and bounds ahead of their European competitors. Under Zinedine Zidane, they won three consecutive UCL titles between 2016 and 2018.
To put their achievements into perspective, no team has defended their Champions League title in its current format, let alone winning it for three straight seasons.
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