The 1961âÂÂ62 European Cup was the seventh season of the European Cup, UEFA's premier club football tournament. The competition was won by Benfica for the second time in a row, beating Real Madrid 5âÂÂ3 in the final at the Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam, on 2 May 1962. This outcome meant that Real Madrid became the first team to win and lose European Cup final. Ferenc Puskás scored his second hat-trick in the final of the competition, and as of 2024, is the only player to achieve this feat, as well as being the only final hat-trick scorer to end up on the losing side.
Malta entered its champion for the first time this season.
A total of 29 teams participated in the competition.
For the first time since European Cup inaugural season Spain was represented by only one team â ever present Real Madrid. Benfica qualified as title holders and since they were also Portuguese champions, runners-up Sporting CP were invited. CDNA Sofia appeared in the sixth edition of European Cup, with only Real Madrid having more appearances in the competition.
Austria Wien, Boldklubben 1913, Tottenham Hotspur, Valkeakosken Haka, Monaco, Hibernians, Feyenoord, Górnik Zabrze and 1. FC Nürnberg made their debut in the competition, while Juventus, Panathinaikos and Fredrikstad returned to the tournament from previous edition.
Servette and Partizan returned to the tournament for the first time since 1956, while Spora Luxembourg and Vasas returned to the competition after five and four years, respectively.
All participants were their respective associations champions, except for Boldklubben 1913, IFK Göteborg and Sporting CP. The first two were leading their respective leagues in spring, but finished third in autumn of 1961.
The draw for the preliminary round took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 4 July 1961. As title holders, Benfica received a bye, and the remaining 28 teams were grouped geographically into two pots. The first team drawn in each pot also received a bye, while the remaining clubs would play the first round in September.
The calendar was decided by the involved teams, with all matches to be played by 30 September.
Rangers won 6âÂÂ4 on aggregate.
Dukla Prague won 6âÂÂ5 on aggregate.
Feyenoord won 11âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
1. FC Nürnberg won 9âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Boldklubben 1913 won 15âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Partizan won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Standard Liège won 4âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Servette won 7âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Tottenham Hotspur won 10âÂÂ5 on aggregate.
Juventus won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Austria Wien won 2âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Vorwärts Berlin won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 12âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Standard Liège won 7âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Benfica won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Juventus won 7âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Tottenham Hotspur won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Dukla Prague won 5âÂÂ4 on aggregate.
Rangers won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
1. FC Nürnberg won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Standard Liège won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Juventus 1âÂÂ1 Real Madrid on aggregate; play-off needed.
Benfica won 7âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Tottenham Hotspur won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 3âÂÂ1 in play-off.
Benfica won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 6âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
The top scorers from the 1961âÂÂ62 European Cup (including preliminary round) were as follows: