24 teams (European national domestic league champions, plus the then current title holders), playing in a tournament system, played knock-out rounds, on a home and away basis. The aggregate score of both games decided the winner.
The eight teams qualified for 1/4 Finals were divided into two groups of four. Every team played against the other three in its group, in consecutive home-and-away matches, so that every two of those games counted as a single win or defeat (point difference being a decisive factor there). In case of a tie between two or more teams after the group stage, the following criteria were used to decide the final standings: 1) one-to-one games between the teams; 2) basket average; 3) individual wins and defeats.
The group winners and runners-up of the 1/4 Finals round qualified for 1/2 Finals. The final was played at a predetermined venue.