This Saturday Real Madrid will again compete in the final of Europe's most prestigious tournament for the 18th time (14 wins and three defeats). Of course, the competition began with their famous run of five successive titles between 1956 and 1960. Here's a rundown of all five finals.
1956: Real Madrid 4 v Reims 3
The first ever final was a classic and remains the only time a final has ended 4-3 and it was a true ding-dong affair. Reims, playing in close by Paris and led by Raymond Kopa stormed into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes. Midfielder Michel Leblond scoring the first ever European Cup final goal.
But Madrid were not about to roll over and goals from their Argentines Hector Rial and Alfredo Di Stefano brought the match level at half-time. In the second half Reims would retake the lead but strikes from Marquitos and Rial again, would see Real etch their name in history. It wouldn’t be the first time.
The trophy had been donated by L’Equipe who had commissioned master goldsmith Léon Maeght to create it and the journalists presented the medals to both teams. Following the match, Di Stéfano entered the Reims dressing room with the trophy full of champagne (presumably from Reims). Both teams drank from the cup in celebration of a terrific final and the dawn of a new era. Real also left Paris with another shiny piece of silver, the signature of Raymond Kopa.
1957: Fiorentina 0 Real Madrid 2
Real were given the honour of hosting the second European Cup final following their success in the inaugural tournament. Fiorentina had stormed to the Italian title, winning by 13 points over Milan in 1956 and had enjoyed a favourable path to the final with a 1-0 win in Belgrade over Red Star in the semis the most impressive performance.
124,00 spectators saw a cagey game spark into life in the second half, when legendary Dutch referee Leo Horn blew for a penalty following a foul on Real forward Mateos. The Spaniard appeared offside prior to the foul that also appeared to be outside the box but incensed protestations from I Viola led to nothing. Di Stefano stepped up, tucked it past Giuliano Sarti (playing in his first of four finals) before Gento finished off a fine pass from Kopa. Two goals for Real and two European Cups.
1958: Milan 2 Real Madrid 3 (AET)
Two years after their triumph in Paris, Madrid met Milan in Brussels. It would be the first final held at a neutral venue and the first to go to extra-time.It was also a perfect illustration of the influence of South America on the early years of the competition.
After a goalless first half Milan started the second half brighter and went one ahead through Juan Schiaffino. After neat passing between Liedholm and Grillo the ball fell to the Uruguyan on the edge of the box and he swivelled to hit a half-volley on his left foot past the despairing Madrid Captain Juan Alonso.
Madrid would level with 15 minutes remaining through Di Stéfano but back came the Rossoneri, Grillo putting them ahead on 77 minutes with a long range strike but their lead would last for only a minute. Joseito, a threat down the right wing chipped a cross back for Rial who cushioned a volley over Soldan and under the cross bar.
Four goals, all made in South America. Sadly, none of the wonderful Argentinians would represent their country in the World Cup that summer, as the AFA decided to select only players playing in the Argentine league.
In extra-time, yet another Argentine, Tito Cucchiaroni, almost won it for Milan, hitting the bar but it was left to a European to get the winner, the irrepressible Paco Gento. His initial shot bounced back to him and he smashed the rebound home.
It was harsh on Milan who had been the better team for the majority of the game and it was probably the closest Madrid came to slipping up during their five-in-a-row.
1959: Real Madrid 2 Reims 0
Real’s four-in-a row was completed against former foes Reims in Stuttgart. In a quirky moment of symmetry Raymond Kopa, would rejoin the opposition for the next season, just like in 1956 but on this occasion he would exit on the winning side.
World Cup record goalscorer Just Fontaine had become Reims key player following Kopa’s departure and just like in Sweden in 1958, he would be tournament’s top marksman. In similar fashion, he would also end up empty handed.
Enrique Mateos put Real ahead inside two minutes of the first half starting and Alfredo Di Stefano (scoring in his fourth final in a row) did the same in the second half would ensure the trophy remained in Real’s hands.
The final would be Luis Carnaglia’s last act as Real Madrid manager. Puskas, not fully fit, was dropped for the final, displeasing Santiago Bernabeu. Puskas would make up for the absence in future years.
1960: Eintracht Frankfurt 3 v Real Madrid 7
The 1960 European Cup final has defined a team, a player and an era and remains, over sixty years later, one of the most famous games in the history of club football. For Bernabéu, it was the culmination of his dream. For Di Stéfano, it was his finest hour, his equivalent to Pele (1970) and Maradona (1986) in the Mexican sunshine. For Puskás it served as the high point in his redemption arc, six years after the tragedy of Berne.
Whilst Real were well known across Europe and favored to win, in Glasgow, fresh from seeing Eintracht humble Rangers 12-4 across the two legs in the semi-finals, expectations of a close encounter were significantly higher. Eintracht gave it a real go and struck first on 18 minutes. Kress, unmarked in the box connected with a cross and clipped a volley past Domínguez.
It was at this point Di Stéfano, showcased the full breadth of his abilities, sprinting back to his own box to deal with counter attacks, picking the ball up from the defenders to start attacks and the deadly poacher in front of goal. He would score twice in three minutes to turn the game around.
And then it was time for Puskás. He would score four unanswered, one on the stroke of half-time and then a 15 minute hat-trick as the second half began. Real were 6-1 up in the European Cup final. Di Stéfano would add a seventh in between consolations from Eintracht and the match ended up 7-3.
But the game was so much more than the scoreline as Real treated the record Glasgow crowd (still the highest ever attended European Cup or Champions League Final) to a full exhibition of their flicks and tricks, an ‘hypnotic exhibition of footwork’ according to the great Scottish Football writer Hugh McIlvanney. Both teams were given an ovation by the crowd at the end with 40,000 fans staying for over an hour to applaud them and many more cheering the team as they were paraded through the city the next day. It was a seminal game in the UK, broadcast as it was across the country.
The defining game is the cherry on top of the cake for a dynastic period in sport. In the European Cup it has been achieved on only a few occasions and rarely in finals. Milan in 1994 and Barcelona in 2011 are the two that spring to mind. A complete demonstration of their own superiority. ‘As the game went on, we weren’t really aware of the level we had reached; we only thought about winning,’ said the centre back Santamaría in an interview with the Guardian to mark the 60th anniversary. ‘Afterwards we realised that we had marked an era in football, that we had done something that would be very hard to equal.’