UEFA Champions League 2018-19 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Video Assistant Referee

VAR was conceived by the Refereeing 2.0 project, under Dutch FA guidance. After some mock trials, the first live trial was during a friendly match between PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord in July 2016. After being slowly rolled out internationally, it was used by FIFA during the 2018 World Cup, and was deemed a success, despite having some controversial moments.

The system allows video referees to analyse refereeing decisions during the match, such as offsides and penalties, to determine whether the right decision was made.

This can be very useful where the original decision was uncertain.

Answer: 5

A preliminary round was held in June, with the representatives from the four lowest ranked UEFA confederations meeting in a one-off semi-final and final format in Gibraltar. Drita of Kosovo defeated Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps 4-1 after extra time to progress to the first qualifying round.

There were a total of three qualifying rounds, before the play-off round determined the six sides from qualifying who would progress to the group stage (AEK Athens, Ajax, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys).

Answer: 3

The teams were: 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany), Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) and Young Boys (Switszerland). Red Star had previously won the European Cup in 1991, and as such qualified for the first European Cup group stage format in the 1991-92 season. However, the Champions League branding did not come into effect until the 1992-93 season. All three teams sadly finished bottom of their respective groups.

Answer: Gabriel Jesus

The 2018-19 season lacked the free scoring games of previous seasons, but Man City's 6-0 win against Shakhtar and Paris Saint-Germain's 6-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade gave a reminder of the growing imbalance between Europe's elite clubs and those who were fortunate enough to qualify for the tournament.

Answer: FC Porto

Porto drew their opening group game away to Schalke 04 of Germany, before winning their five remaining games. They also faced Galatasaray (Turkey) and Lokomotive Moscow (Russia) in group D.

AEK Athens of Greece were the only team not to pick up a point, losing all six of their games in group E against Bayern Munich (Germany), Ajax (Netherlands) and Benfica (Portugal).

Answer: Marcus Rashford

United lost the first leg 2-0 at home and were favourites to exit the competition. Two goals from Romelo Lukaku gave them a 2-1 half-time lead in the second leg in Paris, but their luck seemed to have run out until a penalty was awarded in the dying minutes of the match. Marcus Rashford scored, and United progressed on the away goals rule.

Answer: Raheem Sterling

This was the second successive year Manchester City were beaten by English opposition in the quarter-final of the Champions League. Tottenham won the first leg 1-0 with a goal from Son Heung-min. In a thrilling match in the second leg, Manchester City won 4-3. Raheem Sterling had already scored two when he scored again in stoppage time at the end of the game, however a VAR check showed that Sergio Aguero was offside in the build up and the goal was disallowed.

Answer: Lucas Moura

Ajax, who had already knocked out Real Madrid in the round of 16 and Juventus in the quarter-final, won the first game 1-0 in London, and led 2-0 at half-time in the second leg. The tie appeared to be over, with Ajax looking comfortable. However, Tottenham rallied in the second-half and Lucas' third goal in the 96th minute of the game was enough to give Tottenham an away goals victory.

Answer: 6

Those finals were:

2000 - Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia (Spain)
2003 - AC Milan 0-0 Juventus (Italy) (3-2 pens)
2008 - Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (England) (6-5 pens)
2013 - Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
2014 - Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (Spain)
2016 - Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Spain) (5-3 pens)

Liverpool won the 2019 final with a 2-0 victory. Sadio Mane scored the first from a penalty after Moussa Sissoko handled the ball in his own area 24 seconds into the match. Divock Origi scored a late second for Liverpool, who won the competition for the sixth time in their history.

Answer: Bill Shankley

Although regarded as the manager who laid the foundations for the success that Liverpool achieved in the 1970s and 1980s, Bill Shankley never won Europe's top prize during his reign (1959-1974). Those managers who did manage to win the European Cup / Champions League were:

Bob Paisley - 1977, 1978, 1981
Joe Fagan - 1984
Rafael Benitez - 2005
Jurgen Klopp - 2019.