1996–97 UEFA Champions League

42nd season of the UEFA club football tournamentTemplate:SHORTDESC:42nd season of the UEFA club football tournament

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International football competitionTemplate:SHORTDESC:International football competition
The **1996–97 UEFA Champions League** was the 42nd season of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the fifth since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League, and the last involving only clubs that were champions of their domestic leagues. Due to the Bosman ruling, restrictions on foreign players in matchday squads were lifted from this season.

The tournament was won by Borussia Dortmund in a 3–1 final victory against defending champions Juventus. It was their only title in the tournament to date, and the first title for Germany since its reunification in 1990.

## Teams

24 teams entered the competition: the national champions of each of the top 23 nations in the UEFA coefficient rankings, and UEFA Champions League holders, Juventus. The national champions of the associations ranked 1–7, plus the title holders, all received a bye to the group stage, while the national champions of the associations ranked 8–23 entered in the qualifying round. The remaining national champions from the associations ranked 24–48 were only allowed to participate in UEFA Cup.

## Round and draw dates

The schedule of the competition is as follows (all draws are held in Geneva, Switzerland).

## Qualifying round

Main article: 1996–97 UEFA Champions League qualifying round
The winners of each tie in the preliminary round entered the Champions League group stage, whilst the losers entered the UEFA Cup first round.

## Group stage

Main article: 1996–97 UEFA Champions League group stage
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AuxerreAjaxGrasshopperRangersAtlético MadridBorussia DortmundWidzew ŁódźSteaua BucureștiJuventusManchester UnitedFenerbahçeRapid WienPortoRosenborgMilanIFK Göteborg
Atlético Madrid, Auxerre, Fenerbahçe, Rapid Wien and Widzew Łódź made their debut in the group stage.

Italy became the first association to have two teams in the Champions League group stage.

## Knockout stage

Main article: 1996–97 UEFA Champions League knockout stage
### Bracket

1996–97 UEFA Champions League knockout stage

### Quarter-finals

 **Manchester United**  | 4–0
 **Ajax**  | 4–3
 Rosenborg  | 1–3

### Final

Main article: 1997 UEFA Champions League Final

## See also

* 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup
* 1996–97 UEFA Cup
* 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

## External links

* 1996–97 All matches – season at UEFA website
* European Cup results at RSSSF
* All scorers 1996–97 UEFA Champions League (excluding qualifying round) according to protocols UEFA + all scorers qualifying round
* 1996/97 UEFA Champions League – results and line-ups

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(Finals •
Winning managers) •
Records and statistics
(Top scorers •
Hat-tricks •
Appearances •
Performance comparison •
UEFA coefficient) •
Anthem •
Broadcasters
(in the US) •
Video games •
Trophy •
Extra-sporting events
(1985 Heysel Stadium disaster •
2007 Roma–Manchester United conflict •
2017 Turin stampede •
2022 Paris chaos)

Template:1996–97 in European Football (UEFA)