The 1965 European Cup final was a football match played at the San Siro in Milan, Italy on 27 May 1965 as the conclusion to the 1964âÂÂ65 European Cup.
The match was contested by defending champions Inter Milan of Italy and two-time former winners Benfica of Portugal.
Jair scored the only goal of the game in the 43rd minute as Inter Milan successfully defended their title and won the trophy for the second time.
This is the second and as of 2026, the last time that the team won the title in their home stadium.
Inter Milan were the defending champions after defeating Real Madrid 3âÂÂ1 in the previous year's final in what was their only previous experience of European competition.
Benfica had won the competition twice before, defeating Barcelona 3âÂÂ2 in the 1961 final and Real Madrid 5âÂÂ3 in the 1962 final. They had made the final three years running but lost 2âÂÂ1 to AC Milan in 1963.
Inter Milan qualified for the competition as defending champions and they were given a bye in the preliminary round.
In the first round, Inter Milan faced Dinamo BucureÃÂti of Romania. Inter Milan won the first leg 6âÂÂ0 at home and the second leg 1âÂÂ0 away to advance 7âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Inter Milan then faced Rangers of Scotland in the quarter-finals. Inter Milan won the first leg 3âÂÂ1 at home and lost the second leg 1âÂÂ0 away from home to advance 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Inter Milan faced Liverpool of England. After losing the first leg 3âÂÂ1 away from home, Inter Milan won the second leg 3âÂÂ0 at home to advance to the final 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Benfica qualified for the competition as winners of the 1963âÂÂ64 Primeira Divisão.
In the preliminary round, Benfica defeated Aris Bonnevoie of Luxembourg 5âÂÂ1 away in the first leg and by the same scoreline at home in the second leg to advance 10âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
La Chaux-de-Fonds of Switzerland were Benfica's opponents in the first round. After drawing the first leg 1âÂÂ1 away from home, Benfica won the second leg at home 5âÂÂ0 to advance 6âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Benfica then faced Real Madrid of Spain in the quarter-finals. After winning the first leg 5âÂÂ1 at home, Benfica lost the second leg 2âÂÂ1 away from home to advance 6âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Benfica defeated Gyà Âri Vasas ETO of Hungary 1âÂÂ0 in the first leg away from home and 4âÂÂ0 in the second leg at home to advance to the final 5âÂÂ0 on aggregate.