The UEFA Champions League is usually the domain of elite clubs with deep pockets and massive fanbases. But every so often, a true underdog breaks through. Based on factors like club history, financial power, average attendance, and city size, here are the 10 smallest clubs ever to feature in the Champions League group stage.
10. Royal Antwerp (Belgium)
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Founded in 1880, Royal Antwerp is the oldest club in Belgium but had never played in the Champions League group stage until the 2023/24 season. After winning their first league title in 66 years, they qualified under head coach Mark van Bommel. Despite a modest transfer budget and an average attendance of around 13,600, they pulled off a historic 3–2 win over Barcelona.
9. FC Krasnodar (Russia)
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FC Krasnodar was founded as recently as 2008 and made its Champions League debut in 2020. Backed by billionaire owner Sergey Galitsky, the club has grown quickly, but its roots are still shallow compared to Russia’s traditional powerhouses. They finished third in their group and remain one of the competition’s youngest participants ever.
Hailing from a city with fewer than 175,000 residents, Viktoria Plzeň have reached the group stage four times. Their transfer record stands at less than £1 million, and they average just over 8,000 fans per home game. One of their most famous wins came in 2018 when they defeated Roma 2–1.
APOEL stunned Europe in 2011/12 by reaching the quarterfinals, despite a squad worth just £1.3 million. Representing Nicosia, a city of 200,000, the Cypriot side defeated the odds until being knocked out by Real Madrid. Their fairytale run remains one of the most iconic stories in Champions League history.
6. NK Maribor (Slovenia)
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From a city with fewer than 100,000 residents, NK Maribor have qualified for the group stage three times. Their best results include draws against Chelsea, Schalke, and Sevilla. With a transfer record of around £1 million and average crowds below 3,500, they’ve consistently punched above their weight.
5. BATE Borisov (Belarus)
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Despite coming from the ninth-largest city in Belarus, BATE have played in five Champions League group stages. They operate on an extremely modest budget, with a record transfer fee under £900,000 and average attendances around 2,500. Their resilience and consistency on the European stage are remarkable.
4. Qarabağ FK (Azerbaijan)
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Based in Baku but originally from war-torn Agdam, Qarabağ became the first Azerbaijani club to reach the group stage in 2017. With a low domestic attendance and a club record transfer fee of just over £1 million, they still managed to draw twice with Atletico Madrid – an incredible achievement.
Founded in 2009, FC Astana reached the group stage by 2015, becoming the first Kazakh club to do so. Although based in a large city, their average attendance is only around 6,000, and their budget remains modest. Impressively, they managed four draws in their group, including one against Atletico Madrid.
2. FC Sheriff (Moldova)
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Sheriff Tiraspol shocked the world in 2021 by beating Real Madrid 2–1 at the Bernabéu. Their average home crowd is under 1,000, and their record signing is worth less than £900,000. Hailing from a small city in a disputed region, their rise to the group stage is one of football’s great miracles.
1. FC Unirea Urziceni (Romania)
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Topping the list is Unirea Urziceni, a club from a town of just 13,000 people. In 2009/10, they earned eight points in the group stage, defeating Rangers and Sevilla. But within a year, the club collapsed financially and was dissolved in 2011. Their brief but incredible run stands as the ultimate underdog tale in Champions League history.
