Real Madrid finished in eleventh place in the group stage of the new Champions League format. This meant that the Madrilenians played an intermediate round. Their opponent in this round was Manchester City. The Spaniards won this two-legged match convincingly, after which fellow city-dweller Atletico awaited in the eighth finals. After a nerve-racking double encounter, the team of coach Carlo Ancelotti won after penalties. Real is the reigning title holder and record winner of the European Cup I/Champions League.. No less than 15 times this award was won (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024). In 1985 and 1986 the UEFA Cup was also won.