CHAPTER Arjen Robben right fights off Arsenal's Mikel Arteta in a 2013 Champions League match THE TREBLE In 2013 Football Club FC Bayern Munich reached the Champions League final It was the third time in four years that the club from Munich Germany had played for the championship of Europe But Bayern's fans hadn't had much cause to celebrate in that stretch In 2010 the team known as the Reds had fallen to Italy's Inter Milan 2 0 in the final Bayern's loss in 2012 was even more painful The Champions League final was held at Bayern's stadium in Munich The Reds were planning a huge celebration They had won the title four times but not since 2001 The fans
EUROPEAN SOCCER The European Soccer season is broken down into different levels of competition It can be confusing to keep track of it all Here's a handy guide to help you follow the action League Play The 18 best teams in Germany play in the Bundesliga which debuted in 1963 64 Teams play opponents twice every season for 34 total games The worst two teams are relegated to the second division The third worst team plays the third best team in the second division with the winner securing the final Bundesliga spot European Play The top four teams in the Bundesliga qualify for the Champions League a tournament featuring the best club teams from throughout Europe The Champions League debuted in 1992 It replaced the European Cup a similar tournament that had begun in 1955 The next two teams qualify for the Union of European Football Associations UEFA Europa League The Europa League is Europe's second tier tournament It runs in a similar manner to the Champions League but crowns its own winner The Europa League debuted in 1971 as the UEFA Cup but was renamed in 2009 Domestic Cups The best 64 teams in Germany compete in the DFB Pokal This includes every team in the Bundesliga and the second division It also includes the top teams in the third division The 24 other teams are the best teams from regional leagues The competition was founded in 1935 were ready to celebrate Instead English opponent Chelsea tied the game late in regulation Then Chelsea won it on penalty kicks Bayern's fans and players were crushed
Bayern players hoist coach Jupp Heynckes in celebration after clinching the Bundesliga title in 2013 But Bayern bounced back and a year later the club put together a historic season that made its fans forget about its recent woes The Reds won the Bundesliga title for the first time in three years They also made it to the finals of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League They were close to winning all three trophies in the same season for the first time
