2008–09 UEFA Champions League

A total of 76 teams from 52 UEFA associations (Liechtenstein organises no domestic league competition) participated in the 2008–09 Champions League. Countries are allocated places according to the 2007 UEFA league co-efficient ranking.

Below is the qualification scheme for the 2008–09 Champions League:

• Associations 1–3 each have four teams qualify.
• Associations 4–6 each have three teams qualify.
• Associations 7–15 each have two teams qualify.
• Associations 16–53 (except Liechtenstein) each have one team qualify.

For the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League, the associations are allocated places according to their 2007 UEFA country coefficients, which takes into account their performance in European competitions from 2002–03 to 2006–07.{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method3/crank2007.html|title=UEFA Country Ranking 2007|publisher=Bert Kassies|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-date=2020-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903195027/https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method3/crank2007.html|url-status=dead}}

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Since the title holders (Manchester United) qualified for the Champions League group stage through their domestic league, the group stage spot reserved for the title holders is vacated, and the following changes to the default access list are made:{{cite web |title=2008/09 UEFA Champions League access list and calendar |url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=727025.html |website=UEFA |date=22 December 2008 |access-date=12 January 2015 |archive-date=20 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120170846/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=727025.html |url-status=dead }}

• The champions of association 10 (Scotland) are promoted from the third qualifying round to the group stage.
• The champions of association 16 (Bulgaria) are promoted from the second qualifying round to the third qualifying round.
• The champions of associations 23 (Poland) and 24 (Hungary) are promoted from the first qualifying round to the second qualifying round.

League positions of the previous season shown in parentheses (TH: Title holders).{{cite web|url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/qual2007.html|title=Qualification for European Cup Football 2007/2008|publisher=Bert Kassies}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

;Notes

{{Cnote2 Begin}}

{{Cnote2|Note POR|Portugal (POR): On 4 June 2008, a decision was taken to exclude Portuguese champions Porto from this year's competition, after the club was found guilty of bribing referees in the Primeira Liga during the 2003–04 season.{{cite news |title=Porto lose Champions League place |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7435898.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=4 June 2008 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111230530/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7435898.stm |url-status=live }} As a result, Vitória de Guimarães were promoted from the third qualifying round to the group stage, and Benfica from the UEFA Cup into the third qualifying round. After Porto appealed the decision, however, it was referred by UEFA's Appeals Body back to the Control & Disciplinary Body for re-assessment.{{cite news |title=FC Porto case deferred |url=https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/pressrelease/uefa/uefamedia/71/57/25/715725_download.pdf |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=13 June 2008 |access-date=16 June 2008 |archive-date=11 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911125031/http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/pressrelease/uefa/uefamedia/71/57/25/715725_download.pdf |url-status=live }} The meeting to re-assess the situation took place on 16 June 2008, with the decision being reversed and Porto being allowed back into the 2008–09 Champions League. The decision was taken due to Porto's disciplinary process in Portugal not yet being complete.{{cite news |title=Porto admission confirmed |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=719886.html |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=16 June 2008 |access-date=16 June 2008 |archive-date=29 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829001217/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=719886.html |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Cnote2|Note BUL|Bulgaria (BUL): Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia failed to obtain UEFA license due to unpaid debts and were replaced by league runners-up Levski Sofia.{{Cite web |url=http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=258773 |title=CSKA without UEFA license, Tomov takes the guilt |date=3 June 2008 |access-date=2019-09-22 |archive-date=2008-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606021346/http://dariknews.bg/view_article.php?article_id=258773 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=CSKA Sofia banned from Champions League over unpaid debts |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/05/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-CSKA-Sofia-Champions-League.php |date=5 June 2008 |access-date=5 June 2008 |archive-date=8 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608090148/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/05/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-CSKA-Sofia-Champions-League.php |url-status=live }}}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

{{main|2008–09 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds|Q1}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds|Q2}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds|Q3}}

{{main|2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage}}

{{Location map+ |Europe |width=600 |float=right |caption=Location of teams of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage.
8px Brown: Group A; 8px Red: Group B; 8px Orange: Group C; 8px Yellow: Group D;
8px Green: Group E; 8px Blue: Group F; 8px Purple: Group G; 8px Pink: Group H.

|places=

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=54.222442|long=28.490456|label={{small|BATE}}|mark=Pink_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=34.937422|long=33.620922|label={{small|Anorthosis}}|mark=Red_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=57.0515|long=9.8991|label={{small|AaB}}|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.481667|long=-0.191111|label={{small|Chelsea}}|mark=Brown_pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.555|long=-0.108611|label={{small|Arsenal}}|mark=Purple_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=53.430819|long=-2.960828|label={{small|Liverpool}}|mark=Yellow_pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=53.463056|long=-2.291389|label={{small|Man. United}}|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=39.944167|long=-0.103611|label={{small|Villarreal}}|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.401719|long=-3.720606|label={{small|Atlético}}|mark=Yellow_pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.45306|long=-3.68835|label={{small|Real Madrid}}|mark=Pink_pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.38087|long=2.122802|label={{small|Barcelona}}|mark=Orange_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.269722|long=5.395833|label={{small|Marseille}}|mark=Yellow_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=44.829167|long=-0.597778|label={{small|Bordeaux}}|mark=Brown_pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=45.723889|long=4.832222|label={{small|Lyon}}|mark=Blue_pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=48.218775|long=11.624753|label={{small|Bayern}}|mark=Blue_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=53.066394|long=8.837628|label={{small|Bremen}}|mark=Red_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=37.987169|long=23.754194|label={{small|Panathinaikos}}|mark=Red_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.933886|long=12.454786|label={{small|Roma}}|mark=Brown_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.780822|long=11.282258|label={{small|Fiorentina}}|mark=Blue_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=45.109444|long=7.641111|label={{small|Juventus}}|mark=Pink_pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=45.47808|long=9.124|label={{small|Internazionale}}|mark=Red_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=51.441781|long=5.467442|label={{small|PSV}}|mark=Yellow_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=38.761194|long=-9.160783|label={{small|Sporting}}|mark=Orange_pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.161758|long=-8.583933|label={{small|Porto}}|mark=Purple_pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=44.412806|long=26.040444|label={{small|Steaua}}|mark=Blue_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=46.779678|long=23.577247|label={{small|CFR}}|mark=Brown_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=59.972953|long=30.220533|label={{small|Zenit}}|mark=Pink_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.849711|long=-4.205589|label={{small|Celtic}}|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=47.541575|long=7.620181|label={{small|Basel}}|mark=Orange_pog.svg|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=40.987778|long=29.036667|label={{small|Fenerbahçe}}|mark=Purple_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=48.020833|long=37.809722|label={{small|Shakhtar}}|mark=Orange_pog.svg|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=50.433439|long=30.522114|label={{small|Dynamo}}|mark=Purple_pog.svg|position=right}}

}}

The draw for the group stage took place on 28 August 2008 at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, prior to the 2008 UEFA Super Cup the following day.{{cite news|title=UEFA sets Monaco agenda |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=131072/newsid=736884.html |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=5 August 2008 |access-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829002014/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D131072/newsid%3D736884.html |archive-date=29 August 2008 }}

The top two teams in each group advanced to the knockout phase, and the third-placed teams entered the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. Based on paragraph 6.05 in the regulations for the current season, if two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/regulations/uefa/others/70/22/60/702260_download.pdf |title=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2008/09 |publisher=UEFA |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010050440/http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/regulations/uefa/others/70/22/60/702260_download.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2008}}

1. higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;
2. superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;
3. higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question;
4. superior goal difference from all group matches played;
5. higher number of goals scored in all group matches played;
6. higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons.

Zenit Saint Petersburg, BATE Borisov, CFR Cluj and Anorthosis Famagusta were making their debuts in the group stage.{{cite web |title=Europe's finest set for group stage draw |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d0-0e6fbbf06f5b-ba0946edfe33-1000--europe-s-finest-set-for-group-stage-draw/ |publisher=UEFA |date=28 August 2008 |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-date=20 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120170846/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=740905.html |url-status=live }}

{{clear}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group A|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group B|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group C|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group D|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group E|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group F|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group G|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{:2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group H|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{main|2008–09 UEFA Champions League knockout phase}}

In the knockout stage, teams played against each other over two legs on a home-and-away basis, except for the one-match final.

The mechanism of the draws for each round was as follows:

• In the draw for the round of 16, the eight group winners were seeded, and the eight group runners-up were unseeded. The seeded teams were drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg. Teams from the same group or the same association could not be drawn against each other.
• In the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, there were no seedings, and teams from the same group or the same association could be drawn against each other. As the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals were held together before the quarter-finals were played, the identity of the quarter-final winners was not known at the time of the semi-final draw. A draw was also held to determine which semi-final winner was designated as the "home" team for the final (for administrative purposes as it was played at a neutral venue).

{{trim|{{#section-h:2008–09 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|Bracket}}}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|R16}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|QF}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|SF}}

{{#lst:2008–09 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|F}}

Statistics exclude qualifying rounds.

• 2008–09 UEFA Cup
• 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup
• 2009 UEFA Super Cup
• 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
• 2008–09 UEFA Women's Cup

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111007190947/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2009/matches/all/index.html 2008–09 All matches – season at UEFA website]
• All scorers 2008–09 UEFA Champions League (excluding qualifying round) according to [https://web.archive.org/web/20111026042404/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2009/statistics/round=15276/players/type=topscorers/index.html protocols UEFA] + all scorers [https://web.archive.org/web/20141110124256/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2009/statistics/round=15273/players/type=topscorers/index.html qualifying round]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160120170846/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2009/intro.html 2008/09 UEFA Champions League] - results and line-ups (archive)
• [https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7bf73dbea8-3b6997a5edcd-1000--uefa-champions-league-dates/ 2008-09 UEFA Champions League dates]

{{UEFA Champions League seasons}}

{{2008–09 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 UEFA Champions League}}

Category:UEFA Champions League seasons

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