The 1960âÂÂ61 European Cup was the sixth season of the European Cup, UEFA's premier club football tournament. The competition was won by Benfica, who beat Barcelona 3âÂÂ2 in the final at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, on 31 May 1961. It was the first time that five-time winners Real Madrid did not make it to the final, when they were knocked out by eventual first-time finalists Barcelona in the first round. Benfica was the first Portuguese team to reach the final and to win the tournament.
For the first time a team from Norway participated. However, again two teams withdrew from the competition after initial draw: Romanian CCA BucureÃÂti was fearing a shameful elimination in front of the Czechoslovaks, while Northern Irish Glenavon and East German Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt were refused visas to the other's country. UEFA authorised neutral venues but Glenavon withdrew due to the higher cost and lower revenue.
On 9 November 1960, in a first round game against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu Barcelona's Luis Suárez converted penalty to score a 1000th goal in the history of European Cup.
A total of 28 teams were placed in the competition bracket, but finally only 26 participated since Romanian CCA BucureÃÂti and Northern Irish Glenavon withdrew from the competition.
Spain continued to be represented by two clubs, with Real Madrid qualifying as title holders and Barcelona as Spanish champions. CDNA Sofia appeared in the fifth edition of European Cup, with only Real Madrid having more appearances in the competition.
Lierse, Spartak Hradec Králové, Burnley, IFK Helsingfors, Hamburger SV, Panathinaikos, Limerick, ÃÂjpesti Dózsa, Fredrikstad and IFK Malmö made their debut, while Rapid Wien, AGF, Reims, Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt, Juventus, Ajax, Legia Warsaw, Benfica, CCA BucureÃÂti, Heart of Midlothian and Beà Âiktaà  returned to the competition.
All entrants were their respective associations champions, except for title holders Real Madrid, as well as Swedish IFK Malmö and Polish Legia Warsaw, who were leaders of their respective leagues in spring, but later finished second.
The draw for the preliminary round took place at UEFA headquarters in Paris, France, on 7 July 1960. As title holders, Real Madrid received a bye, and the remaining 27 teams were grouped geographically into three pots. The first team drawn in each pot also received a bye, while the remaining clubs would play the preliminary round in September.
The calendar was decided by the involved teams, with all matches to be played by 30 September.
Fredrikstad won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
IFK Malmö won 5âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Rapid Wien won 4âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
AGF won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Reims won 11âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Barcelona won 5âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Benfica won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Young Boys won 9âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
ÃÂjpesti Dózsa won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
CDNA Sofia won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
AGF won 4âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
IFK Malmö won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Rapid Wien 3âÂÂ3 Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt on aggregate; play-off needed.
Barcelona won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Hamburger SV won 8âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Benfica won 7âÂÂ4 on aggregate.
Burnley won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Spartak Hradec Králové won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Rapid Wien won play-off 1âÂÂ0.
Barcelona won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Hamburger SV won 5âÂÂ4 on aggregate.
Benfica won 7âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Rapid Wien won 4âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Barcelona 2âÂÂ2 Hamburger SV on aggregate; play-off needed.
Benfica won 4âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Barcelona won play-off 1âÂÂ0.
The top scorers from the 1960âÂÂ61 European Cup (including preliminary round) are as follows: