5 clubs with the most number of red cards in Champions League history 

Since the inaugural UEFA Champions League tournament in the 1992-93 season, the level of football has substantially risen, with the gaining importance of proper science-backed diet and training programmes.

With the implementation of these various programmes, players have gotten fitter and resorted to a cleaner game with the reduction in the number of nasty challenges in matches.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edgar Davids hold the joint record for the most number of sending offs in the tournament with 4 each.

A number of players have been sent off in the tournament's history since its rebranding to the Champions League in 1992, but a few players from certain clubs have done so on multiple occasions.

On that note, here we take a look at the 5 clubs with the worst disciplinary records, who have gone on to have the most number of red cards in Champions League history.

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#5 Galatasaray AŞ

Galatasaray AS is the most successful and followed Turkish club in the tournament

With 15 red cards in the tournament, Turkish giants Galatasaray sit in the fifth spot as the club with the most number of dismissals to their name. The Turkish giants recorded their best ever finish in the tournament before the rebranding in 1988-89, as the club reached the semi-final.

Galatasaray have reached the quarter-final stage of the competition on four other occasions, twice before the re-branding in 1962-63 and 1969-70, and twice after in 2000-01 and 2012-13. The club currently sit in second place, and a point behind leaders Istanbul Bakasekhir in the Turkish Super Liga.

With more than half a season to go, the club is well positioned to make a run and challenge for the crown and earn their place back against Europe's elite. Under manager, Fatih Terim, the club are gradually progressing displaying some attacking and entertaining football.

The club is also the most successful Turkish club in the competition despite not making this year's knock-out phase.

#4 Arsenal FC

Wenger will have to guide Arsenal FC to Europa League success this season

2006 UEFA Champions League finalists Arsenal are fourth on this list, with 17 red cards to their name. During Wenger's early days as the Gunners' boss, his players were accused of being extra physical and dangerous with their play and picked up numerous cards for their various offences.

Arsenal are a top European side and will be eager to return to the competition next season with two paths to the tournament. A fourth-place finish in the Premier League is possible as the club is currently sixth, just five points behind Liverpool in 4th. The UEFA Europa league route is also a possibility but the club will need to win the tournament.

On paper, Arsenal remains favourites but will need to play quality football to lift the trophy and gain entry into the elite European football competition. The English club has mesmerised the tournament on numerous occasions and is still one of the best team to have not lifted the prestigious trophy.

#3 Inter Milan

FC Internazionale Milano captain Icardi and co are on course to making the competition next season

Italian winners in 2010-11, Inter Milan are third on the list of clubs with the highest number of red cards in the Champions League. With 17 red cards from only 105 Champions League games the club are above Arsenal in the list, considering that the Gunners have played over 170 games in the competition.

The club won their maiden Champions League in 2009-10 under Jose Mourinho, beating Louis van Gaal's Bayern Munich in the final.

During the 2007-08 season, under Roberto Mancini, the Italian side bowed out of the tournament in the round of 16, to Liverpool and recorded 4 red cards that season.

During their title-winning season in 2010-11, in the second leg semi-final against Barcelona, Thiago Motta was sent off in the first half and the club looked like they would bow out of the tournament. However, a resurgent performance saw Inter hold on the beat Barcelona on aggregate.

Currently, in the fourth spot in the Serie A, the club are on course to qualify for next season's qualifying stages of the tournament.

#2 FC Bayern München

Heynckes at a Bayern Muenchen Training and Press Conference

5-time European winners and multiple time German champions, Bayern Munich sit second on the list of clubs with the highest number of sending offs to their name in the tournament, with 18 red cards. Notably, the club's most recent triumph in the tournament was under Jupp Heynckes in the 2012-13 season.

Bayern recently brought back the veteran German manager to take charge of the club until the end of the season and could be dark horses to win the competition.

Boasting a strong squad of world-class players, the Germans are playing free-flowing football under the experienced Heynckes, who has brought back stability to the club.

With the club taking on Turkish club Besiktas in the round of 16, the Bavarians are favourites to progress to the next round. Holger Badstuber and Bastian Schweinsteiger have got sent off twice apiece for the club in the UEFA Champions League.

#1 Juventus

Juventus FC manager Massimiliano Allegri has overseen two final defeats in 2015 and 2017

Two-time European winners and Italian giants Juventus top the list of clubs with the highest number of red cards in the competition with a staggering total of 23 red cards. The club set the record twice for the most number of dismissals in a single season with 5 in 2000-01 and 2005-06.

While being the nastiest club in the competition, Juventus were losing finalists last season to Real Madrid and in 2015 to Barcelona. The Italians play a smart brand of counter-attacking footballing by drawing their opponents out of position.

The Italian giants play Tottenham Hotspur in the round of 16 this season, in what will be an intriguing tie of football. The English side is a difficult draw for any team and Juventus will have to work hard to break through the well-balanced Spurs side.

Manager Massimiliano Allegri will be wary of the attacking threat that the Spurs will present, and will need a clinical defensive performance from his side.