# 2005–06 UEFA Champions League
The 2005–06 [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) was the 51st edition of UEFA's premier European club football tournament and the 14th since the competition was rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. It was won by [FC Barcelona](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-barcelona), who came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the final at the [Stade de France](https://www.edgepedia.org/stade-de-france) in Paris on 17 May 2006, a match staged to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first European Cup final, also played in Paris in 1956.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/) • [2](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/01bd-0f8425d6704b-add06a3441f5-1000/2005_06_uefa_executive_committee_report_ceo_annual_report.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Winner | FC Barcelona, beating Arsenal 2-1 in the final[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/) |
| Final | 17 May 2006, Stade de France, Paris; Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal[3](https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/UCL/2005/1108503_FR.pdf) |
| Scale | 74 teams entered including qualifying; 32 reached the group stage; 125 matches were played from the group stage onward, excluding qualifying[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/) • [13](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/01bd-0f8425d8db2a-c14fed0d7dee-1000/rapport_financier_2005_2006.pdf) |
| Goals | 285 goals at 2.28 per match, one every 39 minutes; the lowest goals average in over a decade of the competition[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/) • [5](https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/461401.pdf) |
| Top scorer | Andriy Shevchenko (Milan), 9 goals, ahead of Ronaldinho (7) and Eto'o (6)[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/) |
| Best defense | Arsenal, with 10 clean sheets, the most of any club that season[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/) |
| Surprise package | Villarreal CF, semifinalists in their debut season in the competition[6](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01b4-0e6d7bf5ccc8-6834648354a7-1000--new-names-set-to-grace-big-stage/) |
## Format and entry
The competition began with qualifying rounds played from 12 July 2005 and culminated in a group stage of 32 teams, from which the knockout rounds ran through to the final.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/) The holders Liverpool were drawn in the group stage with fellow English side Chelsea, whom they had eliminated at the semi-final stage the previous season; Real Madrid, the most successful club in the competition's history with nine titles at that point, headed Group F alongside Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rosenborg.[7](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaa6fe44402-2ac696326d91-1000--english-giants-to-meet-again/)
The clubs that survived to the knockout rounds included Arsenal, Barcelona, Milan, and [Villarreal](https://www.edgepedia.org/villarreal) in the semi-finals, with Benfica, Inter, Juventus, and Lyon eliminated in the quarter-finals.[8](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/clubs/)
## The final
**Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal.** Arsenal goalkeeper [Jens Lehmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/jens-lehmann) was sent off in the 18th minute for fouling [Samuel Eto'o](https://www.edgepedia.org/samuel-etoo), and [Sol Campbell](https://www.edgepedia.org/sol-campbell) headed Arsenal into a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute despite the man disadvantage. Barcelona equalized through Eto'o and won it through Juliano Belletti late in the second half.[3](https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/UCL/2005/1108503_FR.pdf) Substitute Henrik Larsson provided the assists for both goals.[9](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/unplayable-barcelona-jose-mourinhos-cult-heroes-and-real-madrids-dynasty-the-20-greatest-champions-league-teams-ever-ranked)
Eto'o, named player of the match, said afterward that Barcelona's players had drawn on the memory of Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down in the previous year's final in Istanbul. Barcelona coach [Frank Rijkaard](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-rijkaard) acknowledged that Lehmann's dismissal had changed the game dramatically.[10](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/18/championsleague.arsenal) The title was Barcelona's second European Cup, 14 years after their first at Wembley in 1992, and the first of four the club would win between 2005/06 and 2014/15.[9](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/unplayable-barcelona-jose-mourinhos-cult-heroes-and-real-madrids-dynasty-the-20-greatest-champions-league-teams-ever-ranked) • [11](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/i-have-bittersweet-memories-of-beating-arsenal-in-2006-being-on-the-bench-in-paris-really-hurt-as-in-my-view-it-wasnt-fair-but-i-didnt-let-it-bring-me-down-barcelona-legend-reflects-on-first-champions-league-victory)
## Arsenal's run
Arsenal reached their first Champions League final with a campaign of 8 wins and 4 draws, remaining unbeaten until the final itself, where the 2-1 defeat in Paris ended their unbeaten record at the worst possible moment.[12](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/05/30/la-paradoja-del-arsenal-sin-champions-a-pesar-de-no-perder-ningun-partido-cadena-ser/) Their defense was the season's most reliable: 10 clean sheets, more than any other club, with Barcelona next on 8.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/) Along the way they eliminated Real Madrid and beat Villarreal in the semi-finals, and [Cesc Fàbregas](https://www.edgepedia.org/cesc-fabregas) and [Giovanni van Bronckhorst](https://www.edgepedia.org/giovanni-van-bronckhorst) led the season's appearance count with 13 matches each.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01b4-0e6d7bf5ccc8-6834648354a7-1000--new-names-set-to-grace-big-stage/)
## Scoring and defensive records
The season was defensively oriented. Its 2.28 goals per match was the lowest average in more than a decade of Champions League football, and UEFA's technical report noted that all of the top 16 teams operated with a zonal back four.[5](https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/461401.pdf) Barcelona nevertheless led club scoring with 24 goals, followed by Milan with 20 and Lyon with 19.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/)
Andriy Shevchenko of Milan won the scoring race with 9 goals from 30 attempts on target, ahead of [Ronaldinho](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronaldinho) with 7 and Eto'o and [David Trezeguet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-trezeguet) with 6 each. Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Steven Pienaar of Ajax, and Johan Micoud of Bremen shared the assists lead with 4 apiece, and Milan's Dida made 56 saves, the most of any goalkeeper.[4](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/)
## References
1. [Season 2005/06, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/)
2. [2005/06 UEFA Executive Committee / CEO Annual Report, UEFA](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/01bd-0f8425d6704b-add06a3441f5-1000/2005_06_uefa_executive_committee_report_ceo_annual_report.pdf)
3. [Full Time Report, Final, 17 May 2006, UEFA](https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/UCL/2005/1108503_FR.pdf)
4. [Season 2005/06 Stats, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/statistics/)
5. [UEFA Champions League technical report 2005/06, UEFA](https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/461401.pdf)
6. [New names set to grace big stage, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01b4-0e6d7bf5ccc8-6834648354a7-1000--new-names-set-to-grace-big-stage/)
7. [English giants to meet again, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaa6fe44402-2ac696326d91-1000--english-giants-to-meet-again/)
8. [Season 2005/06 Clubs, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/2005/clubs/)
9. [The 20 greatest Champions League teams ever, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/unplayable-barcelona-jose-mourinhos-cult-heroes-and-real-madrids-dynasty-the-20-greatest-champions-league-teams-ever-ranked)
10. [Liverpool's comeback feat inspired us, says Eto'o, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/18/championsleague.arsenal)
11. [Barcelona legend reflects on first Champions League victory, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/i-have-bittersweet-memories-of-beating-arsenal-in-2006-being-on-the-bench-in-paris-really-hurt-as-in-my-view-it-wasnt-fair-but-i-didnt-let-it-bring-me-down-barcelona-legend-reflects-on-first-champions-league-victory)
12. [La paradoja del Arsenal, Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/05/30/la-paradoja-del-arsenal-sin-champions-a-pesar-de-no-perder-ningun-partido-cadena-ser/)
13. [Rapport Financier 2005 2006.pdf, editorial.uefa.com](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/01bd-0f8425d8db2a-c14fed0d7dee-1000/rapport_financier_2005_2006.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › UEFA competitions › UEFA club competitions › European Cup and UEFA Champions League*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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