1997–98 UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League 1997/98 was the sixth season of the most important European competition for club teams in football under this name and the 43rd overall.
This season, were again all reported national champion, most recently in the 1993/94 season at the start, as a result of the reorganization of the European club competitions again to all member associations a starting place in the Champions League has been granted at least. So took including defending champion Borussia Dortmund record number of 55 teams from 46 state associations in the contest, which for the first time in the competition's history, the countries that were in the squares 1-8 UEFA five year ranking each were allowed to deploy its runner-up as a second representative. For the first time at the start in the main European club competitions were also representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Macedonia and Slovakia.
The final took place on 20 May 1998 held at the Amsterdam Arena and was won by Real Madrid with a 1-0 win over Juventus.
- 3.1 Group A
- 3.2 Group B
- 3.3 Group C
- 3.4 Group D
- 3.5 Group E
- 3.6 Group F
Mode
This season, there were two changes from the previous season. The qualification for the group stage was, instead of the previous one, played in two knockout rounds. This is followed by the group stage concluded with six, instead of four, four-team groups a to. For the group stage of the champions from the countries in the squares were 1 - 7 of UEFA five year ranking ( Germany, England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain ) are set. Only Turkey as 8 this rating also had its champions Galatasaray send in the second qualifying round, as defending champion Borussia Dortmund was also set for the group stage. The six group winners and two best runners-up spot to reach the quarter -finals.
Qualification
First qualifying round
The first legs took place on 30 July 1997 at 23, the return games.
Second qualifying round
The winners of the second qualifying round reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, the defeated teams reached the first round of the UEFA Cup 1997/98.
The first legs took place on August 27, 1997 on the 13th, the return games.
Group stage
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Quarterfinals
The first legs took place on 18 March 1998 on the 4th, the return games.
The meeting of the teams from Munich and Dortmund marked the first Bundesliga duel in the history of the Champions League at all. The decision in favor of the Dortmund fell in the 109th minute with a goal by Chapuisat.
Semifinal
The first legs took place on 15 April 1998 on the 1st, the return games.