As the 2008-2009 Champions League Tournament begins winding its way to completion, sports fans are tuning in to watch big names battle it out for the Europeans Cup.

Thought of as the most prestigious club trophy in football, millions of viewers tune in each year to watch this exciting competition take place. With the championship final set to play out in the spring, the quarter-finals are sure to draw in big numbers.

The 2009 tournament is the 54th annual edition of the event throughout Europe. The final is set to be played in Rome in May, and will be the eighth time it is held in Italy.

The tournament itself consists of several stages which take many months for teams to rotate through. Throughout the years, the title has been won by 21 different clubs, and 12 of those have won the award more than once.

In 2008 Manchester United won the title. Historically, Real Madrid has won the competition the most, with nine championships under their belt. Prize money is even delegated to those teams that make it to the final stages, with the winners taking home a jackpot of 7 million euros, whilst the runners-up pocket 4 million euros. From there, the award money decreases depending on rank and how teams end the tournament.

Matches during the Champions League are broadcast outside of Europe, with avid fans watching from more than 70 countries around the world in more than 40 languages. Upwards of 200 million people tune in each year, and the competition is often considered to be one of the most-watched sporting events to air on television.

In 2009, exciting matches between the big teams garnered huge crowds watching the game live and at home. Liverpool FC soared to beat Real Madrid 4-0, placing them in the quarter-finals. Arsenal beat Rome to continue on to the quarterfinals after a nail-biting final, which only saw them win after a penalty shoot-out.

Barcelona beat Lyon to head to the quarter-finals, after scoring four goals during the first 45 minutes of the match. Other teams to continue out of the first knockout round include Porto, Chelsea, Villarreal and Bayern Munich.

Those in the UK can watch the matches on an unprecedented screen and in great quality when choosing HD. High definition television is changing the way we watch our favourite programmes, and sports fans especially are embracing the crisp picture and added benefits of HD.

No matter what team you're going for, if you are watching the Champions League on Sky+ HD then it's possible to receive high picture quality. Of course, you may not be capturing the action in all its live glory in the stadiums, but it's possibly the next best thing.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com