2001–02 UEFA Champions League
The 2001–02 UEFA Champions League was the 47th season of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA's premier club football tournament, and the 10th since its rebranding from the "European Champion Clubs' Cup" or "European Cup". The tournament was won by Real Madrid, who beat Bayer Leverkusen in the final to claim their ninth European Cup title. The final's winning goal was scored by Zinedine Zidane, with a left-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area into the top left corner.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Qualifying: 11 July – 8 September 2001 Competition proper: 11 September 2001 – 15 May 2002 |
| Teams | Competition proper: 32 Total: 72 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Real Madrid (9th title) |
| Runners-up | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 157 |
| Goals scored | 393 (2.5 per match) |
| Attendance | 5,411,714 (34,470 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) 10 goals |
Bayer Leverkusen eliminated all three English teams on their way to the final: Arsenal in the second group stage, followed by Liverpool in the quarter-finals and Manchester United in the semi-finals.
Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was the tournament's top scorer, scoring 10 goals from the first group stage through to the semi-final.
Bayern Munich were the defending champions, but were eliminated by eventual winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.