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The Champions League is considered to be one of the most prestigious competitions in football. Playing with the best clubs from Europe's top-division leagues is a dream come true for any player.
That being said, qualifying for the Champions League is not an easy task. European clubs who have been regular participants in the competition have struggled massively to qualify in recent years.
European giants have dominated the Champions League
Ever since its formation in 1955 (previously called the European Cup until 1992), the competition has seen 22 different winners. European teams from the top five leagues have more than often ended up as the winners of the Champions League.
In its 66 years, the Champions League has seen a crazy amount of goals scored in some enthralling matches. On that note, let's take a look at the five European clubs that have scored the highest number of goals in the tournament:
#5 Juventus (462 goals)
The Old Lady have been a massive force in Serie A. Having won Italy's top division title a record 36 times, the achievement speaks volumes of the club's consistency and success.
Juventus have won the Champions League twice in the history of the tournament. Their first victory came in the 1984-85 season while the second came in the 1995-96 season.
The Bianconeri have been unlucky to have ended up as the runners-up in the Champions League a record seven times. Interestingly, the Old Lady has seen the highest number of red cards in the history of the tournament, with a tally of 28 to their name.
Nevertheless, they are the second most successful Italian club in Europe. Having played 288 matches in the Champions League, Juventus have won 148 of those games. In those 288 matches to date, the Italian giants have scored a total of 462 goals.
Some of the highest goal scorers in the Champions League have played for Juventus. The list includes Alessandro Del Piero (the club's all-time leading goal-scorer), Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Filippo Inzaghi and the great Cristiano Ronaldo.
#4 Manchester United (522 goals)
Manchester United are one of the most decorated clubs in English football. Having won 20 league titles, the Red Devils have been immense in England's top-division. They have struggled since the retirement of their star manager Sir Alex Ferguson but nevertheless their success in the past cannot be undone.
United have more than often been a regular presence in the Champions League. In the 286 matches that they have played, the Red Devils have a win percentage of 54.9. They have been the Champions of Europe three times in the tournament's history. The first came in the 1967-68 season, the second in the 1998-99 season and the third in the 2007-08 season.
The 1998-99 season remains the best of the lot as Manchester United ended up winning the treble that season. What made it more special was the fashion in which United won it. After trailing by a goal for almost the entire 90 minutes against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou, the Red Devils scored twice in stoppage time to secure the title.
Manchester United have been part of providing some of the most entertaining games in Champions League history. Their 7-1 win against Roma in the 2007-08 season was an utter delight.
In the 286 matches that Manchester United have played in the Champions League, they have managed to score 522 goals. This tally of 522 goals makes the Red Devils, the English club with the highest number of goals in the history of the tournament to date. Some of their most popular goalscorers in the European tournament include Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney.
#3 Barcelona (653 goals)
Champions League nights at Camp Nou have always been a pretty sight. The Catalan club has won the tournament five times in the club's history. Out of the five, four of them have come in this century. They have won it in 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, and the 2014-15 season. Interestingly, Barcelona have won in all the finals they have played since 2005.
It is surprising how a club of Barcelona's stature has not won more Champions League trophies before. That being said, the Spanish giants have played an important role in making the tournament an entertaining one.
Barcelona have so far played 328 matches in the Champions League and have won 193 out of them. In the process, they have gone on to score 653 goals. Out of 653, Lionel Messi has contributed in 156 goals (120 goals + 36 assists), which is a staggering 23.9 per cent of Barcelona's goals in the Champions League.
#2 Bayern Munich (754 goals)
Bayern Munich is undoubtedly the most successful team in Germany. Having won 31 league titles, there is very little debate as to how dominating the Bavarians have been in the Bundesliga.
As far as the Champions League is concerned, Bayern have won the tournament six times. They have won it in the 1973-74,1974-75, 1975-76, 2000-01, 2012-13 and the 2019-20 season.
Bayern have played 363 matches in the Champions League to date. They have won 215 matches in the process, securing the second-most number of wins in the history of the tournament. The German giants have in total scored 754 goals in the Champions League.
Bayern are well-known for providing some stunning goal-scoring performances in the European tournament. The Bavarians' fixture against Barcelona in the Champions League has seen a lot of goals in the recent past. Some of the finest goalscorers in the tournament have played for Bayern, namely Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and others.
#1 Real Madrid (993 goals)
Real Madrid are arguably the most successful club when it comes to winning the Champions League. With 13 titles to their name, Los Blancos have ruthlessly dominated this European tournament.
Real Madrid have made it to the Champions League a record 46 times, playing 452 matches, the highest in the history of the tournament. They also hold the record for most wins, winning 269 of their 452 matches.
Real Madrid also hold the record for conceding the most goals, having let 494 goals in until now. That being said, the Spanish giants have scored the highest number of goals in Champions League history, scoring 993 goals. With a difference of 239 goals between them and second-placed Bayern Munich, the record is likely to stand for some time.
