Real Madrid is the king of the group stage. Of the 17 times it has competed in the Champions League, it has not once been eliminated prior to the Knockout phase. A full house that makes the 'Blancos' club one of a kind.
Aside from Chelsea, it is the only club that has not taken a fall during the group stage. Although current champions the Blues are on the brink of being out of this one. It all depends on the game between Shakhtar and Juve in which a draw would see both teams qualifying for the last sixteen.
Madrid's record began in the 1995-96 season and has been uninterrupted since that of '97-'98. Sixteen consecutive seasons of getting through the first stage of the Europe's top competition. Although it could be presumed that this is a record within the reach of the other big European teams, that is not the case.
Not even the all-powerful Bayern has managed it, having been eliminated in the 2002-03 season when a brilliant Déportivo sent the German giants packing on its home turf, leaving them with only two out of a possible 18 points.
Neither does Barcelona have the full house, having been eliminated on three occasions. Nor Milan, Manchester United, Juventus, Valencia, Rome, Liverpool, Arsenal, Inter, Porto, Ajax…Only Real Madrid and Chelsea – on 10 occasions which will be 11 if it qualifies this time round – have the clean sweep.
Aside from Chelsea, it is the only club that has not taken a fall during the group stage. Although current champions the Blues are on the brink of being out of this one. It all depends on the game between Shakhtar and Juve in which a draw would see both teams qualifying for the last sixteen.
Madrid's record began in the 1995-96 season and has been uninterrupted since that of '97-'98. Sixteen consecutive seasons of getting through the first stage of the Europe's top competition. Although it could be presumed that this is a record within the reach of the other big European teams, that is not the case.
Not even the all-powerful Bayern has managed it, having been eliminated in the 2002-03 season when a brilliant Déportivo sent the German giants packing on its home turf, leaving them with only two out of a possible 18 points.
Neither does Barcelona have the full house, having been eliminated on three occasions. Nor Milan, Manchester United, Juventus, Valencia, Rome, Liverpool, Arsenal, Inter, Porto, Ajax…Only Real Madrid and Chelsea – on 10 occasions which will be 11 if it qualifies this time round – have the clean sweep.
