5 times clubs from a single league dominated the UEFA Champions League

The Champions League is a competition meant for the elite clubs across Europe. Each country depending on their league’s rank in the UEFA standings will be allowed to a certain number of representatives to participate in the competition.According to the current rankings Spain, England and Germany are all given three automatic qualification spots in the Champions League and one playoff spot for the team that finishes fourth. Usually, every season there is an even mix of teams from the top three leagues of Europe participating in the latter stages of the competition. But sometimes we see teams from a single league dominating the tournament with at least two teams from the same country reaching the finals. Here are five such instances when clubs from a single league dominated the Champions League

#5 Germany - 2012/13

Bayern Munich are normally the only German team that do well in the Champions League. The likes of Schalke, Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen haven’t made too much of a mark in the competition with the teams progressing only up to the quarter-finals on most occasions.

But this year was an exception. Borussia Dortmund had slowly become a major force in German and European football. They had broken Bayern’s monopoly in the Bundesliga by winning it twice in 2011 and 2012.

in 2013 three German sides namely Dortmund, Munich and Schalke had made it to the round of 16 stages of the competition. Schalke despite facing relatively easy opposition in Galatasaray did not manage to qualify for the quarter-finals. Dortmund though did progress after beating Shakhtar 5-2 on aggregate

Bayern on the other hand, had a tougher assignment as they faced Arsenal. The German giants squeezed past the Gunners after going through on away goals.

Bayern comfortably disposed of Juventus in the quarters while Dortmund went through practically in the last minutes of the game in a thriller against Malaga.

The semis proved to a mouthwatering prospect as Bayern faced Barcelona and Dortmund played Real Madrid. In a two-way battle of Germany vs Spain the Germans were far superior asMunich dismantled Barcelona winning 7-0 on aggregate and Dortmund won 4-3 over the two legs.

So for only the fifth time in the Champions League, we saw two teams from the same nation playing out a final which Bayern ultimately won in dramatic fashion scoring in the 88th minute to seal a 2-1 win.

#4 Spain - 2013/14

Spanish clubs have made a habit of dominating European competition over the last few years. We saw Barcelona lift the Champions League trophy for the 4th time int he last ten years. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have won the Europa league four times in the last six years each winning the competition twice.

In 2013/14 Real Madrid finally broke their hoodoo in the competition after winning their 10th Champions League crown, the first team in the competition's history to reach double figures. Once gain Spanish clubs were at the centre of it all with the final being an all Spanish one.

Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid all gained automatic qualification to the group stages after finishing in the top three last season in La Liga. The three giants all qualified top of their group and progressed to the quarter-finals without much resistance.

But in the quarters Barcelona were pitted against Atletico which meant there would only be a maximum of two Spanish side in the semis. Atletico though got the better of their rivals to go through to the semis. Real also progressed after edging past Dortmund.

The semi-finals on paper looked like tight matches but Real Madrid blew Bayern Munich away, progressing through with a 5-0 scoreline. Atletico beat Chelsea at the Bridge by coming from behind, winning 3-1.

The final was a dramatic one as Real scored a 90th-minute equalizer to take it to extra time. Atletico had grown tired by this point and Real managed to overpower their opponents to win the game 4-1.

#3 England 2007/08

From 2006 to 2008 there were at least, one English team who were n the finals of the UEFA Champions League and on three of those occasions there were at least, three in the semi-final. But only once in those three years have we seen an English team lift the trophy.

That season was 2007/08 when Manchester United lifted the trophy. In this four year period, English teams reigned supreme across Europe. The emergence of these teams meant the Premier League moved up in the UEFA rankings

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all made it to the quarter-final stages of the competition. At that stage Chelsea played Turkish side Fenerbache, United played Roma and Arsenal and Liverpool were pitted against each other.

Manchester United and Chelsea progressed through to the next round after comfortable wins against their opponents. Arsenal and Liverpool played out a draw in the first leg but the second leg proved to be a thriller.

Arsenal were going through on away goals with only ten minutes to play but Liverpool scored two late goals to settle the tie. In the semis, Chelsea beat Liverpool in extra time and Manchester United overcame Barcelona through a solitary goal.

The final saw Manchester United defeat their English rivals on penalties after John Terry famously missed his kick.

#2 Italy 2002/03

In the 2002-03 season, UEFA continued the same format of the competition with two group stages and three knockout rounds. This was the year of the Italians with three teams making the final stages of the competition.

Juventus had won the Serie A the previous year with Roma coming in second. That meant the two teams gained automatic qualification to the first group stage. The Milan clubs Inter and AC finished in the final two qualifying spots which meant entry into the 3rd qualifying round.

As it happened both Inter and AC Milan made it to the group stages after winning their respective matches which meant there was a possibility of four teams making it to the latter stages. Unfortunately, Roma suffered a shock exit in the first group stage but the other Italian clubs did progress.

In the quarter-finals, there were three Italian clubs as well as three Spanish clubs fighting for progression. Juve came up against Barcelona and Inter faced two-time finalists Valencia. Both the Italian teams overcame their Spanish counterparts to make it to the semis with Real Madrid the only Spanish team to go through.

A classic Milan derby ensued in the first semi-final with AC Milan getting the better of their crosstown rivals. And Juventus ensured it would be an all-Italian final after defeating Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate. The Final was not the best one in recent years after a goalless draw in 120 minutes led to penalties which Milan won, to lift their sixth European cup.

#1 Spain 1999/00

The 1999-2000 Champions League introduced a new format in the competition. The previous year had a single group stage with a further three knockout stages to decide the winner. But the format changed to two group stages at the end of which there would be eight teams left in the knockout stages.

The Spanish representatives that year were Barcelona, Valencia, Mallorca and Real Madrid. Barcelona and Real were awarded an automatic group stage spot after finishing first and second in the La Liga last season.

Valencia and Mallorca were given the right to participate in the group stages after going through the qualifying rounds. Mallorca suffered a shock loss to Molde but Valencia progressed through.

But no one expected them to make it all the way to final of the competition. Valencia were pitted in the same group as Bayern Munich but managed to top the first group stage. Next they were in the same group as Manchester United in the second stage. They got through that as well and then beat Lazio in the quarters.

Madrid and Barcelona were expected to at least make the quarter-finals and they did not disappoint as they also made it to the semis of the competition making it three Spanish teams with Bayern Munich the only non-Spanish team to reach that stage of the competition.

Valencia pulled a shock upset against Barcelona in the semis but were overpowered by Real Madrid in the final losing 3-0 to the Champions