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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Has a team won the Champions League without beating any league champions?

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard lifts the Champions League trophy in 2005
Liverpool are one of a select few teams to have defeated only two league champions on their way to Champions League glory. Photograph: Phil Noble/PA

“Has a team won the Champions League without beating any reigning champions?” asks Paddy French. “And if not, which teams have beaten the fewest champions to win it? And which teams have beaten the most champions in winning the Champions League/European Cup?”

Let’s just clarify that Paddy is referring to reigning league champions, here, not reigning European champions, to which we had a few answers. Even in an era in which many Champions League teams are also-rans from the big leagues around Europe, the answer to the first question is no.

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