When was the first Champions League played?
The champions league, officially the UEFA Champions League, was introduced in 1955 with the first match taking place on 4 September 1955. It is an annual club football competition contested by Europe's top football clubs organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Recognized as the most prestigious club competition in European football, the winner is determined by elimination through stages. The competition was introduced as the Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens, with the first match taking place between Sporting CP and Partizan. The match, which ended in a 3-3 draw, marked the competition's annual play, with the winner that year being Real Madrid after beating Stade de Reims 4-3 on 13 June 1956.