If the teams could still not be separated, a period of golden goal extra time lasting 30 minutes (split into two 15-minute halves) would be played.
As in every season of the competition, the final was played as a single match at a neutral venue, which in 2001 was the San Siro in Milan, Italy.
The final pitted three-time winners Bayern Munich of Germany against Spanish club Valencia, who were appearing in their second consecutive final, with Bayern winning 5–4 on penalties after the two teams could not be separated through 90 minutes and extra time.
[3] Valencia, meanwhile, had to play two English sides en route to the final, first beating Arsenal[4] then Leeds United.
[5] The other teams involved in the knockout stage were Galatasaray of Turkey and Deportivo La Coruña of Spain.