The clubs that have played the most Champions League games without winning the trophy | OneFootball

Arsenal aim to end the club's wait for an elusive European Cup this evening, when the Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta's men can make history in Budapest tonight, as Arsenal look to win the Champions League for the first time. It's only a second-ever final for the North Londoners, who have beenChampions League regulars without getting over the line.

No team in the history of the European Cup and Champions League has played more games in the competition than Arsenal without winning the trophy.

The teams that have played the most European Cup and Champions League games without winning the trophy

5. Olympiacos - 166 games

Olympiacos are the most successful side in Greek football with 48 league titles and have competed regularly in Europe's top club competition. The Athens outfit made their first appearance in the European Cup in 1959/60, becoming the first Greek club to compete in UEFA club competition.

Olympiacos are the only side from Greece to win a European trophy, afterlifting the Europa Conference League in 2023/24, but they have never progressed past the Champions League quarter-finals, reaching that stage in 1998/99.

4. Galatasaray - 169 games

Galatasaray are also ground-breakers, as the first and only Turkish team to have won a European trophy.

The Istanbul giants won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2000, but their best run in the European Cup ended in the semi-finals. Galatasaray reached the last four in 1988, but lost to FC Steaua București 5-1 on aggregate.

3. Dynamo Kyiv - 184 games

Dynamo Kyiv memorably reached the Champions League semi-finals in 1998/99, where a narrow loss to Bayern Munich denied the Ukrainians a place in the final.

The club's exciting side, featuring Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov, stunned Europe to reach the final four, but bowed out to the German giants.

That represent Dynamo's best venture in the European Cup or Champions League, though the club are two-time winners of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

2. Atletico Madrid - 192 games

No side has ever featured in more European Cup or Champions League finals thanAtletico Madrid without winning the trophy.

The Spanish side lost to Bayern Munich in the 1974 decider, before heartbreaking losses to arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016. The first saw Atletico leading until stoppage time before conceding a late equaliser, while the second ended in shootout defeat.

Cruel luck for the Rojiblancos.

1. Arsenal - 225 games

Arsenal have played the most games in the European Cup and Champions League without winning the trophy. The Gunners played their 225th fixture in the competition proper during the club's semi-final win over Atletico Madrid this season.

That result has booked Arsenal a place in only their second final, having lost to Barcelona in the 2006 decider.