European Cups Trivia


  • Double Digits
  • Country- and Citywise Feats
  • Most Participations
  • Consecutive Participations
  • Most Cups, Finals, Semifinals and Quarterfinals
  • Consecutive Cups, Finals, Semifinals and Quarterfinals
  • Domestically Worst Winners
  • Beating Holders
  • Hosting Abroad
  • Records
  • Unbeaten Records
  • Players' Records (link to different file)
  • Overview Domestic Ties in Europe (link to different file)

  • Champions' Cup/Champions League Trivia | Cup Winners' Cup Trivia | Fairs' Cup Trivia | UEFA Cup/Europa League Trivia

    Double Digits

    Below you will find all matches in the European Cups, in which a team reached double digits, in chronological order per competition.

    Some trivia: the only clubs to have reached double figures more than once in European competition are Liverpool (3 times), Ajax and Feyenoord (both twice). No fewer than 6 different English and 5 different Dutch clubs have reached double figures at least once, for in total 8 and 7 times, respectively.

    The only clubs to have conceded double figures more than once are are APOEL from Lefkosia (on 3 occasions, all in the CWC), Anorthosis Famagusta, Floriana, KR (Reykjavík), Red Boys Differdange and Reipas Lahti, all twice. No fewer than 5 different Cypriotic clubs (for in total 8 times) and 4 different clubs from Luxembourg and Malta (on 5 occasions in total) have been destroyed in this manner.

    The only club to have both reached and conceded double figures in European competition is Anderlecht.

  • Champions' Cup/League
  • Cup Winners' Cup
  • Fairs' Cup
  • UEFA Cup

  • Champions' Cup/League

    1956/57, prel. rd.: Manchester United        10-0 Anderlecht
    
    1962/63, 1st round: Ipswich Town             10-0 Floriana
    
    1965/66, 1st round: Benfica                  10-0 Stade Dudelange
    
    1966/67, 1st round: Haka (Valkeakoski)       1-10 Anderlecht
    
    1969/70, 1st round: Feijenoord                12-2 KR (Reykjavík)
                        Leeds United             10-0 SFK Lyn (Oslo)
    
    1970/71, 1st round: Borussia Mönchengladbach 10-0 EPA (Larnaka)
    
    1973/74, 1st round: Dinamo Bucuresti         11-0 Crusaders
    
    1979/80, 2nd round: Ajax                     10-0 Omonia (Lefkosia)
    
    1980/81, 1st round: Liverpool                10-1 OPS (Oulu)
    
    2011/12, 2nd.qual.: HJK (Helsinki)           10-0 Bangor City
    

    Cup Winners' Cup

    1961/62, prel. rd.: Újpesti Dózsa            10-2 Floriana
    
    1963/64, 2nd round: Sporting CP (Lisboa)     16-1 APOEL (Lefkosia)
    
    1964/65, 1st round: Sparta Praha             10-0 Anorthosis (Famagusta)
    
    1965/66, 1st round: Reipas (Lahti)           2-10 Honvéd (Budapest)
    
    1967/68, 1st round: Aberdeen                 10-0 KR (Reykjavík)
    
    1968/69, 1st round: Dunfermline Athletic     10-1 APOEL (Lefkosia)
    
    1969/70, 1st round: Lierse SK                10-1 APOEL (Lefkosia)
    
    1971/72, 1st round: Chelsea                  13-0 Jeunesse Hautcharage 
    
    1973/74, 1st round: Malmö FF                 11-0 Pezoporikos (Larnaka)
    
    1974/75, 1st round: Liverpool                11-0 Strømsgodset IF (Drammen)
                        PSV (Eindhoven)          10-0 Ards (Newtonards)
    
    1976/77, 1st round: Levski-Spartak (Sofia)   12-2 Reipas (Lahti)
    
    1982/83, 1st round: Swansea City             12-0 Sliema Wanderers
    
    1983/84, 1st round: Rangers                  10-0 Valletta
    
    1994/95, prel. rd.: Maribor Branik           10-0 Norma Tallinn
    
    1997/98, 1st round: Roda JC (Kerkrade)       10-0 Hapoel Beersheba
    

    Fairs' Cup

    1961/62, 1st round: MTK (Budapest)           10-2 RC Strasbourg
    
    1962/63, 1st round: Roma                     10-1 Altay (Izmir)
    
    1965/66, 1st round: 1.FC Köln                13-0 US Luxembourg
    
    1969/70, 1st round: Liverpool                10-0 Dundalk
    

    UEFA Cup/Europa League

    1972/73, 1st round: US Rumelange             0-12 Feyenoord 
    
    1976/77, 1st round: Derby County             12-0 Finn Harps
    
    1977/78, 1st round: AZ '67 (Alkmaar)         11-1 Red Boys Differdange
    
    1983/84, 1st round: Austria (Wien)           10-0 Aris Bonnevoie
                        Bayern München           10-0 Anorthosis (Famagusta)
                        Rabat Ajax               0-10 TJ Internacionál (Bratislava)
    
    1984/85, 1st round: Ajax                     14-0 Red Boys Differdange
    
    1999/00, prel. rd.: CE Principat             0-11 Viking FK (Stavanger)
    
    2000/01, prel. rd.: Constel-lació            0-10 Rayo Vallecano
    

    Country- and Citywise Feats

    Here an overview is presented of countries and cities performing well in two or more Cups in the same season.

    Winning all three Cups

    Only once, one country won all three European cups: in 1989/90, Italy won the Champions' Cup through Milan, the Cup Winners' Cup through Sampdoria, and the UEFA Cup through Juventus. Curiously enough, all three were beaten in the 1990/91 Coppa Italia by one and the same team, Roma.

    Winning two Cups

    The following countries have won 2 Cups in one season (apart from Italy's feat in 1989/90 above):

    Spain   9 times (1957/58 CC and FC, 1959/60 CC and FC, 1961/62 CWC and FC,
                     1965/66 CC and FC, 2005/06 CC and UEFA, 2013/14 CC and EL,
                     2014/15 CC and EL, 2015/16 CC and EL, 2017/18 CC and EL)
    
    Italy   5 times (1960/61 CWC and FC, 1988/89 CC and UEFA, 1992/93 CC and UEFA,
                     1993/94 CC and UEFA, 1998/99 CWC and UEFA)
    
    England 5 times (1967/68 CC and FC, 1969/70 CWC and FC, 1970/71 CWC and FC,
                     1980/81 CC and UEFA, 2018/19 CC end EL)
    
    Germany 2 times (1974/75 CC and UEFA, 1996/97 CC and UEFA)
    
    The only cities to have won two Cups in one season are Milano (1993/94) and Madrid (2017/18).

    Reaching three different Finals

    The following countries has representatives in each of the three continental finals in the same season:

    Italy      1988/89 [Milan won the CC final, Sampdoria lost the CWC final,
                        Napoli won the UEFA Cup]
               1989/90 [Milan won the CC final, Sampdoria won the CWC final,
                        Juventus beat Fiorentina for the UEFA Cup]
               1992/93 [Milan lost the CC final, Parma won the CWC final, 
                        Juventus won the UEFA Cup]
               1993/94 [Milan won the CC final, Parma lost the CWC final,
                        Internazionale won the UEFA Cup]
    
    Spain      1961/62 [Real Madrid lost the CC final, Atlético de Madrid won
                        the CWC final, Valencia beat Barcelona for the Fairs' Cup]
               1985/86 [Barcelona lost the CC final, Atlético de Madrid lost
                        the CWC final, Real Madrid won the UEFA Cup]
    
    Italy in 1989/90 and Spain in 1961/62 were the only two countries to have fielded four of the six finalists until in 2018/19 England provided all four finalists in the two remaining competitions, three of them from London.
    In 1997/98, Italy also fielded three finalists, but two of those played the UEFA Cup final. In 2013/14 and 2015/16, Spain fielded three finalists, two in the Champions League and one in the Europa League final.

    Reaching two different Finals

    The following countries had clubs in two finals (including the six occasions above in which a country boasted representatives in three finals):

    13 times:
    Spain        (1957/58, 1959/60, 1961/62, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1965/66, 1985/86,
                  2000/01, 2005/06, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18)
    
    12 times:
    Italy        (1960/61, 1964/65, 1972/73, 1983/84, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1992/93,
                  1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99)
    
    11 times:
    England      (1967/68, 1969/70, 1970/71, 1972/73, 1975/76, 1979/80, 1980/81,
                  1983/84, 1984/85, 2005/06, 2018/19 [*])
    
     7 times:
    Germany      (1974/75, 1976/77, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1996/97, 2001/02)
    
    
     twice:
    Belgium      (1975/76, 1977/78)
    
     once:
    France       (1995/96)
    Netherlands  (1987/88)
    Scotland     (1966/67)
    
    [*] in 2018/19 England accounted for both finalists in the Champions League and
        in the Europa League.
    

    Cities with 2 finalists in one season:

    Madrid (five times, in 1961/62, 1985/86, 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18)
    Glasgow (1966/67)
    Liverpool (1984/85)
    Milano (1993/94)
    London (2018/19 - three finalists)
    

    Reaching the Semifinals in all three Cups

    The following countries had clubs in all semifinals in the same season [the number between square brackets indicates exactly how many teams the country fielded in the semifinals that season]:

    10 times:
    Italy        (1964/65 [3], 1967/68 [3], 1988/89 [3], 1989/90 [4], 1992/93 [3],
                  1993/94 [4], 1994/95 [4], 1996/97 [3], 1997/98 [4], 1998/99 [4])
    
     5 times:
    England      (1964/65 [3], 1965/66 [5], 1969/70 [3], 1972/73 [4], 1983/84 [4])
    
     3 times:
    Germany      (1973/74 [3], 1975/76 [3], 1978/79 [5])
    
     twice:
    Spain        (1961/62 [4], 1985/86 [3])
    
     once:
    Scotland     (1966/67 [3])
    France       (1995/96 [3])
    
    England (1965/66) and Germany (1978/79) have the record of fielding five of the 12 semifinalists; Germany repeated this feat in 1979/80 (but did not have semifinalists in all three tournaments: one in the Champions' Cup and four in the UEFA Cup). Italy twice had teams in the semifinals of all the Cups in three consecutive seasons (1992-95 and 1996-99).

    Spain fielded 3 semifinalists in the Champions League 1999/2000 (but none in the only other remaining tournament, that for the UEFA Cup). Italy improved on that in 2002/03, fielding 3 semifinalists in the Champions League and one in the UEFA Cup. In 2006/07, England had 3 semifinalists in the Champions League, but none in the UEFA Cup. In 2013/14 and in 2015/16 Spain fielded 2 semifinalists in both the Champions League and the Europa League (the new name for the UEFA Cup). In 2018/19, England also fielded two semifinalists in both tournaments, and all four reached the final.

    Reaching the Quarterfinals in all three Cups

    The following records only apply to seasons in which the Cup Winners' Cup was played, i.e. the 39 seasons from 1960/61 until 1998/99.

    The following countries had clubs in all quarterfinals in the same season [the number between square brackets indicates exactly how many teams the country fielded in the quarterfinals that season]:

    19 times:
    Italy        (1961/62 [3], 1962/63 [3], 1964/65 [3], 1967/68 [3], 1969/70 [3],
                  1971/72 [4], 1982/83 [3], 1984/85 [3], 1988/89 [4], 1989/90 [4],
                  1990/91 [6], 1991/92 [4], 1992/93 [4], 1993/94 [6], 1994/95 [5],
                  1995/96 [4], 1996/97 [3], 1997/98 [4], 1998/99 [6])
    
    14 times:
    England      (1960/61 [3], 1964/65 [3], 1965/66 [5], 1968/69 [4], 1969/70 [4],
                  1970/71 [6], 1972/73 [4], 1976/77 [3], 1978/79 [4], 1980/81 [3],
                  1983/84 [4], 1984/85 [4], 1996/97 [3], 1997/98 [3])
    Germany      (1960/61 [3], 1963/64 [3], 1972/73 [4], 1973/74 [4], 1975/76 [4],
                  1978/79 [5], 1980/81 [3], 1981/82 [4], 1982/83 [3], 1985/86 [3],
                  1988/89 [4], 1993/94 [5], 1995/96 [3], 1997/98 [5])
    Spain        (1961/62 [5], 1964/65 [4], 1965/66 [5], 1967/68 [3], 1977/78 [3],
                  1982/83 [4], 1985/86 [3], 1986/87 [3], 1988/89 [3], 1991/92 [3],
                  1995/96 [4], 1996/97 [4], 1997/98 [3], 1998/99 [4])
    
     5 times:
    France       (1979/80 [3], 1989/90 [3], 1994/95 [3], 1995/96 [3], 1996/97 [3])
    
     4 times:
    Belgium      (1976/77 [3], 1987/88 [3], 1989/90 [4], 1991/92 [3])
    Netherlands  (1970/71 [3], 1977/78 [3], 1992/93 [3], 1995/96 [3])
    
     3 times:
    Soviet Union (1983/84 [3], 1984/85 [3], 1990/91 [3])
    
     twice:
    Scotland     (1966/67 [3], 1968/69 [3])
    
     once:
    CSSR         (1963/64 [3])
    Hungary      (1965/66 [3])
    Portugal     (1993/94 [3])
    Romania      (1988/89 [3])
    

    Only in the season 1974/75 there was not a single country fielding a team in each of the quarterfinals. In 1995/96 there were no fewer than 5 such countries (together responsible for 17 of the 24 quarterfinalists).

    The record of fielding 6 of the 24 quarterfinalists is held by Italy (thrice, in 1990/91, 1993/94 and 1998/99) and England (1970/71); Germany (1979/80) also boasted 6 quarterfinalists, but not in all three Cups (1 in the CC and 5 in the UEFA Cup). Italy fielded quarterfinalists in all three competitions for eleven consecutive seasons: 1988/89 until 1998/99. By the way, in the first season after the Cup Winners' Cup had been abolished, 1999/00, Italy failed to field a single team in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals (although 4 Italian teams reached the 1/8 finals). The same happened again in 2000/01 - in fact, even worse for the Italians: none of their clubs reached any quarterfinal, neither in the Champions' League nor in the UEFA Cup that season.

    Two cities managed to field three quarterfinalists (one in each tournament) in one season:

    Budapest (1965/66) 
    Bucuresti (1988/89)
    

    Other Curiosities

    FC Barcelona are the only club to have played two quarterfinals in the same season: in the Champions' Cup and the Fairs' Cup of 1960/61.

    Manchester United won their first two European Cups (Champions' Cup 1967/68 and Cup Winners' Cup 1990/91) in spite of finishing behind city rivals Manchester City in the English league; in revenge, Manchester United finished ahead of City in the season (1969/70) the latter won the Cup Winners' Cup. This spell was broken in 1998/99, when United won the treble while City managed to get out of the Second Division - both scoring two extremely late goals to do so.


    Most Participations

    Below we list all clubs to have entered European competitions on 20 or more occasions. Between square brackets the participations are split according to the competitions (first Champions' Cup or Champions League, then Cup Winners' Cup, then Fairs' Cup and UEFA Cup or Europa League; negative numbers between separate brackets indicate the number of seasons a club entered both the Champions League and the UEFA Cup or Europa League; for Barcelona this includes the 1960/61 season in which they entered both the Champions' Cup and the Fairs' Cup, the only time any club participated in both competitions simultaneously - Barcelona also competed in both the Fairs Cup 1958-60 and the Champions' Cup 1959/60 but as the first started in 1958 Barcelona's entry is counted for the 1958/59 season).
    Note that seasons in which a club withdrew before playing a single match (such as a number of Eastern European clubs in 1968/69) are not included.
    All numbers up to and including the 2019/20 season.

    63 [50- 4- 9]       Real Madrid
    
    62 [30-13-21] [- 2] Barcelona 
    
    59 [34- 7-23] [- 5] Anderlecht
       [39- 7-22] [- 9] Benfica
       [21- 8-37] [- 7] Sporting (Lisboa)
    
    58 [34- 8-21] [- 5] FC Porto
    
    57 [25- 6-32] [- 6] Crvena zvezda Beograd 
    
    56 [36- 5-28] [-13] Ajax  
       [34- 4-20] [- 2] Juventus
    
    55 [34- 8-24] [-11] Celtic
    
    54 [27- 5-24] [- 2] CSKA (Sofia) (CDNA, Sredets)
       [32- 9-23] [-10] Olympiakos (Piraeus)
       [30-10-22] [- 8] Rangers
    
    53 [21- 2-34] [- 4] Internazionale
    
    52 [36- 5-11]       Bayern München
    
    51 [28- 5-24] [- 6] PSV (Eindhoven)
       [16-10-27] [- 2] Rapid Wien
    
    50 [28- 7-23] [- 8] Panathinaïkos
    
    49 [21- 9-30] [-11] Dinamo Zagreb
       [36- 4-19] [-10] Dynamo Kyiv
       [26-11-21] [- 9] Steaua Bucuresti
    
    48 [20- 6-33] [-11] FC Brugge
       [15-11-26] [- 4] Levski (Sofia) (Levski-Spartak, Vitosha)
    
    47 [27- 6-23] [- 9] Sparta Praha
    
    46 [15- 9-24] [- 2] Atlético Madrid
       [17- 5-28] [- 4] Feyenoord
       [26- 8-17] [- 5] Galatasaray
       [29- 3-15] [- 1] Linfield
       [28- 4-14]       Milan
    
    45 [18- 5-24] [- 2] Dinamo Bucuresti
    
    44 [19- 8-19] [- 2] Austria Wien
       [26- 2-24] [- 8] Fenerbahçe
       [10- 8-27] [- 1] Hajduk Split
       [22- 2-31] [-11] Partizan Beograd
    
    43 [16- 6-26] [- 5] AEK (Athinai)
       [12- 8-26] [- 3] Ferencváros
       [12- 9-22]       Glentoran
       [24- 5-17] [- 3] Liverpool
    
    42 [19- 7-19] [- 3] Besiktas
       [28- 5-11] [- 2] Manchester United
    
    41 [19-10-17] [- 5] APOEL (Lefkosia)
       [18- 5-19] [- 1] Omonia (Lefkosia)
       [13- 6-24] [- 2] Roma
    
    40 [19- 3-26] [- 8] Spartak Moskva
       [13- 3-28] [- 4] Valencia
    
    39 [15- 3-26] [- 5] Grasshoppers
       [13- 9-24] [- 7] Legia Warszawa
       [17- 5-20] [- 3] Malmö FF
    
    38 [ 8- 6-30] [- 6] PAOK (Thessaloniki)
       [25- 1-22] [-10] Rosenborg BK
       [10- 9-19]       Sliema Wanderers
       [18- 7-15] [- 2] Valletta
    
    37 [21- 2-22] [- 8] FC Basel
       [20- 4-20] [- 7] HJK (Helsinki)
       [22- 2-13]       Jeunesse d'Esch
       [14- 6-23] [- 6] Standard Liège
    
    35 [21- 3-12] [- 1] Arsenal
       [18- 4-18] [- 5] Olympique Lyonnais
    
    34 [ 3- 8-23]       Aberdeen
       [ 7- 2-27] [- 2] Girondins Bordeaux
       [11- 6-18] [- 1] Újpest (Újpesti Dózsa)
    
    33 [11- 7-19] [- 4] Slovan Bratislava
    
    32 [11- 3-22] [- 4] Dinamo Tbilisi
       [10- 6-16]       Hibernians (Paola)
       [15- 2-15]       IFK Göteborg
    
    31 [18- 3-14] [- 4] Borussia Dortmund
       [ 9- 2-24] [- 4] Napoli
    
    30 [11- 1-24] [- 6] Brøndby IF
       [ 5- 5-21] [- 1] Fiorentina
       [16- 6-10] [- 2] AS Monaco
       [14- 3-17] [- 4] Olympique Marseille
       [20- 4-20] [-14] Shakhtar Donetsk
       [11- 3-18] [- 2] FC Zürich
    
    29 [ 5- 2-23] [- 1] Athletic Bilbao
       [10- 4-15]       Honvéd (Budapest)
       [ 9- 3-19] [- 2] Trabzonspor
    
    28 [16- 5- 8] [ -1] Chelsea
       [ 6- 5-18] [- 1] Hamburger SV
       [ 9- 5-14]       KR (Reykjavík)
       [13- 6- 9]       Paris Saint-Germain
       [ 7- 6-16] [- 1] Servette
       [11- 2-25] [-10] Slavia Praha
       [ 5- 2-21]       VfB Stuttgart
    
    27 [ 9- 4-14]       ÍA (Akranes)
       [13- 3-11]       SK Tirana (17 Nëntori)
    
    26 [ 4- 5-19] [- 2] AIK (Solna)
       [ 8- 3-19] [- 4] Anorthosis Famagusta
       [15- 2-12] [- 3] CSKA Moskva
       [ 1- 3-22]       Dundee United
       [ 2- 4-20]       1.FC Köln
       [ 9- 6-12] [- 1] Shamrock Rovers
       [ 6- 6-15] [- 1] Tottenham Hotspur
       [ 9- 6-13] [- 2] Wacker (Tirol) Innsbruck
       [ 9- 4-16] [- 3] Werder Bremen
    
    25 [12- 1-16] [- 4] Bayer Leverkusen
       [ 4- 1-20]       Dynama Minsk
       [ 9- 0-17] [- 1] Flora Tallinn
       [15- 3-17] [-10] FC København
       [ 6- 1-19] [- 1] Lazio
       [ 4- 4-17]       Universitatea Craiova
       [12- 3-15] [- 5] Young Boys (Bern)
    
    24 [ 7-10- 7]       Floriana
       [15- 2-14] [- 7] Maribor
       [10- 2-14] [- 2] Schalke 04
       [ 6- 3-19] [- 4] Sturm Graz
       [ 0- 4-20]       FC Vaduz
       [10- 7- 9] [- 2] Valur (Reykjavík)
    
    23 [ 6- 3-14]       Bohemians (Dublin)
       [ 8- 3-14] [- 2] Borussia Mönchengladbach
       [15- 2- 9] [- 3] F91 Dudelange
       [11- 3-11] [- 2] Dundalk
       [15- 1-19] [-12] RB Salzburg (includes Austria Salzburg)
       [ 7- 1-17] [- 2] Sevilla
       [ 4- 2-21] [- 4] FC Twente
    
    22 [ 2- 6-14]       Apollon (Lemesos)
       [10- 6- 6]       Dukla Praha
       [ 1- 4-17]       Eintracht Frankfurt
       [ 8- 6- 9] [- 1] Haka (Valkeakoski)
       [ 3- 3-17] [- 1] Heart of Midlothian
       [ 1- 1-20]       Hibernian (Edinburgh)
       [10- 4-10] [- 2] Partizani Tiranë
       [10- 2-10]       AS Saint-Etienne
       [12- 0-13] [- 3] Skonto Riga
       [ 6- 4-13] [- 1] Spartak Trnava
       [ 2- 0-20]       Vojvodina Novi Sad
    
    21 [ 2- 3-17] [- 1] Braga
       [ 1- 5-16] [- 1] Dinamo Moskva
       [ 1- 5-15]       Lausanne-Sports
       [ 7- 4-13] [- 3] MTK (Budapest)
       [ 8- 2-11]       FC Nantes
       [ 3- 3-15]       Rapid Bucuresti
       [17- 0-12] [- 8] Sheriff Tiraspol
       [ 2- 8-12] [- 1] FC Sion
       [13- 1-10] [- 3] The New Saints (includes Llansantffraid)
       [ 5-10- 6]       Union (Luxembourg)
       [ 1- 1-19]       FC Utrecht (includes DOS)
       [ 6- 4-11]       Zalgiris Vilnius
       [ 9- 0-16] [- 4] Zenit Sankt Peterburg
    
    20 [15- 0-13] [- 8] BATE Barysau
       [ 4- 9-16]       Birkirkara
       [ 3- 0-18] [- 1] Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
       [ 7- 3-10]       Dynamo Dresden
       [12- 2- 6]       Górnik Zabrze
       [ 7- 2-13] [- 2] Lech Poznan
       [ 7- 3-13] [- 3] Lokomotiv Moskva
       [ 9- 1-14] [- 4] Maccabi Tel-Aviv
       [ 4- 2-15] [- 1] Olimpija Ljubljana
       [12- 0- 8]       Pyunik Yerevan
       [ 2- 4-15] [- 1] Torino
       [ 8- 2-12] [- 2] Vardar Skopje
       [ 6- 0-15] [- 1] FK Ventspils
    

    The only six clubs to have entered all three competitions on 10 or more occasions are Barcelona, Rangers, Rapid Wien, Levski (Sofia), Steaua Bucuresti and APOEL (Lefkosia).

    See also the section on consecutive participations.


    Consecutive Participations

    The following clubs have played in at least 15 consecutive seasons in one of the European Cups (excluding the UEFA Intertoto Cup):

    62 Barcelona (1955/58-2019/20)             
    
    55 Anderlecht (1964/65-2018/19)
    
    46 FC Porto (1974/75-2019/20)
       PSV (Eindhoven) (1974/75-2019/20)
    
    41 Benfica (1960/61-2000/01)
    
    37 Sparta Praha (1983/84-2019/20) 
    
    36 Sporting (Lisboa) (1977/78-2012/13)
    
    31 Rangers (1981/82-2011/12) 
       Dynamo Kyiv (1989/90-2019/20)  
    
    29 Ajax (1991/92-2019/20)
    
    28 Juventus (1963/64-1990/91)
       Olympiakos (Piraeus) (1992/93-2019/20)
    
    27 Bayern München (1993/94-2019/20)
    
    26 FC Brugge (1994/95-2019/20)
    
    25 Celtic (1995/96-2019/20)
    
    24 Ajax (1966/67-1989/90)                  [banned from 1990/91 competition]
       Crvena zvezda Beograd (1968/69-1991/92) [banned 1992/93 through UN boycott]
       Spartak Moskva (1980/81-2003/04)
       Manchester United (1990/91-2013/14)
       Arsenal (1996/97-2019/20)
       Partizan Beograd (1996/97-2019/20)
       
    23 Levski Sofia (1991/92-2013/14) 
       Olympique Lyonnais (1997/98-2019/20)
       Real Madrid (1997/98-2019/20)
       Shakhtar Donetsk (1997/98-2019/20)
    
    22 Real Madrid (1955/56-1976/77)     
    
    21 Liverpool (1964/65-1984/85)             [banned 1985/86-1991/92 (would have qualified each year)]
       AEK (Athinai) (1991/92-2011/12)
       F91 Dudelange (1999/00-2019/20)
       Sheriff Tiraspol (1999/00-2019/20)
    
    20 Austria (Wien) (1976/77-1995/96)
       Flora Tallinn (1994/95-2013/14)
       The New Saints (2000/01-2019/20)
       FK Ventspils (2000/01-2019/20)
       
    19 Crvena zvezda Beograd (1995/96-2013/14) [banned from 2014/15 competition]
       Chelsea (1997/98-2015/16)
       FC København (2001/02-2019/20)
    
    18 Malmö FF (1964/65-1981/82)
       Real Madrid (1978/79-1995/96)
       Slavia Praha (1992/93-2009/10)
       APOEL (Lefkosia) (2002/03-2019/20)
       FC Basel (2002/03-2019/20)
       CSKA Moskva (2002/03-2019/20)
       Pyunik Yerevan (2002/03-2019/20)
    
    17 Omonia Nicosia (1975/76-1991/92)        [withdrew from 1974/75 competition]
       Besiktas (1984/85-2000/01)
       Rosenborg BK (Trondheim) (1989/90-2005/06)
       Benfica (2003/04-2019/20)
       Steaua Bucuresti (2003/04-2019/20)
    
    16 Celtic (1962/63-1977/78)
       CSKA (Sofia) (1969/70-1984/85)
       Internazionale (1976/77-1991/92)
       Steaua Bucuresti (1984/85-1999/00)
       Feyenoord (1991/92-2006/07)
       Skonto Riga (1992/93-2007/08)
       Levadia Tallinn (2004/05-2019/20)
    
    15 Sporting (Lisboa) (1961/62-1975/76)
       Grasshopper (1970/71-1984/85)
       Aberdeen (1977/78-1991/92)
       Dinamo Bucuresti (1981/82-1995/96)
       Panathinaikos (1998/99-2012/13)
       Milan (1999/00-2013/14)
       FH (Hafnarfjörður) (2004/05-2018/19)
    


    Most Cups, Finals, Semifinals and Quarterfinals

    For an overview of most cup wins, finals and semifinals, both countrywise and clubwise, please refer to the European Cups Semifinal Balance.

    The list below shows all (currently) 81 clubs to have reached at least 5 European quarterfinals, split into (1) Champions' Cup and Champions League; (2) Cup Winners' Cup; and (3) Fairs' Cup, UEFA Cup and Europa League.
    Note that the four group runners-up in the first ever Fairs' Cup 1955-58 are included as quarterfinalists (this only affects Internazionale's total in the list below as the other teams involved were city selections). Likewise group runners-up of the first two editions (1991/92 and 1992/93) of the Champions League are considered semifinalists but that does not affect the statistics below.
    All numbers up to and including the 2019/20 season.

       Club           Quarterfinals ( 1, 2, 3)   [see explanation below]
    
     1.Barcelona                 45 (24, 9,12)   [a  s  f  w]
     2.Real Madrid               44 (35, 4, 5)   [a  s  f]
     3.Bayern München            41 (30, 5, 6)   [a  s  f  w]
     4.Juventus                  35 (19, 3,13)   [a  s  f  w]
     5.Benfica                   31 (18, 5, 8)   [a  s]
     6.Internazionale            29 (12, 2,15)   [a]
     7.Manchester United         26 (19, 3, 4)   [a  s  f  w]
     8.Liverpool                 25 (15, 2, 8)   [a  s  f]
     9.Milan                     24 (17, 3, 4)   [a  s]
    10.Atlético Madrid           23 (10, 7, 6)   [a  s  f]
    11.Ajax                      21 (14, 3, 5)   [a  s  f  w]
    12.Anderlecht                19 ( 9, 4, 6)   [a  s]
    13.Porto                     18 (10, 4, 4)   [a  s  f]
       Valencia                  18 ( 4, 2,12)   [a  s  f]
    15.Chelsea                   17 ( 9, 4, 4)   [a  s  f  w]
       PSV (Eindhoven)           17 ( 8, 2, 7)   [a  s]
    17.Dynamo Kyiv               16 ( 9, 4, 3)   [a  s]
       Roma                      16 ( 4, 3, 9)   [a  s]
    19.Crvena zvezda             15 ( 9, 3, 3)   [a  s]
       Arsenal                   15 ( 7, 3, 5)   [a  s  f]
    21.Borussia Dortmund         14 ( 8, 1, 5)   [a  s  f]
    22.Hamburger SV              13 ( 3, 3, 7)   [a  s  f]
       Tottenham Hotspur         13 ( 3, 3, 7)   [a  s  f]
    24.Celtic                    12 ( 7, 3, 2)   [a  s]
       Paris Saint-Germain       12 ( 6, 4, 2)   [a  s]
       Rangers                   12 ( 6, 3, 3)   [a  s]
    27.Feyenoord                 11 ( 3, 5, 3)   [a  s]
       Borussia Mönchengladbach  11 ( 3, 3, 5)   [a  s]
       1.FC Köln                 11 ( 2, 1, 8)   [a  s]
    30.Olympique Lyonnais        10 ( 5, 2, 3)   [a  s]
       Schalke 04                10 ( 3, 2, 5)   [a  s]
       Leeds United              10 ( 3, 1, 6)   [a  s  f]
       Eintracht Frankfurt       10 ( 1, 3, 6)   [a  s]
       Sporting (Lisboa)         10 ( 1, 3, 6)   [a]
    35.AS Monaco                  9 ( 6, 2, 1)   [a  s]
       Standard Liège             9 ( 4, 3, 2)   [a]
       Spartak Moskva             9 ( 4, 2, 3)   [a  s]
       Olympique Marseille        9 ( 4, 1, 4)   [a  s]
       FC Brugge                  9 ( 3, 3, 3)   [a  s]
       Werder Bremen              9 ( 2, 2, 5)   [a]
    41.Galatasaray                8 ( 6, 1, 1)   [a]
       IFK Göteborg               8 ( 5, 1, 2)   [a]
       Rapid Wien                 8 ( 4, 4, -)
       Manchester City            8 ( 4, 2, 2)   [a]
       Sparta Praha               8 ( 4, 2, 2)   [a]
       Dynamo Dresden             8 ( 3, 2, 3)   [a]
       Újpesti Dózsa              8 ( 3, 2, 3)   [a  s]
       Fiorentina                 8 ( 2, 3, 3)   [a  s  f]
       Bayer Leverkusen           8 ( 2, 1, 5)   [a]
       Sevilla                    8 ( 2, -, 6)
    51.CSKA Sofia                 7 ( 6, 1, -)
       Panathinaikos              7 ( 5, -, 2)
       Hajduk Split               7 ( 3, 2, 2)   [a]
       Girondins Bordeaux         7 ( 3, 1, 3)   [a  s]
       Austria Wien               7 ( 2, 3, 2)   [a]
       Villarreal                 7 ( 2, -, 5)
       Lazio                      7 ( 1, 1, 5)   [a]
       Athletic Bilbao            7 ( 1, -, 6) 
       Real Zaragoza              7 ( -, 5, 2)
    60.Dukla Praha                6 ( 4, 1, 1)   [a]
       Legia Warszawa             6 ( 3, 3, -)
       Steaua Bucuresti           6 ( 3, 2, 1)   [a]
       AJ Auxerre                 6 ( 1, 1, 4)   [a]
       Ferencváros                6 ( 1, 1, 4)   [a]
       1.FC Kaiserslautern        6 ( 1, -, 5)
       Torino                     6 ( -, 4, 2)
       Parma                      6 ( -, 3, 3)
       Newcastle United           6 ( -, -, 6)
    69.AS Saint-Etienne           5 ( 3, -, 2)
       Grasshoppers               5 ( 2, 1, 2)   [a]
       Sampdoria                  5 ( 1, 4, -)
       Carl Zeiss Jena            5 ( 1, 2, 2)   [a]
       Shakhtar Donetsk           5 ( 1, 1, 3)   [a]
       FC Basel                   5 ( 1, -, 4)
       Dinamo Moskva              5 ( -, 5, -)
       Dinamo Zagreb              5 ( -, 3, 2)
       Levski Sofia               5 ( -, 3, 2)
       1.FC Magdeburg             5 ( -, 3, 2)
       Napoli                     5 ( -, 2, 3)
       FC Twente                  5 ( -, 1, 4)
       AZ (AZ '67)                5 ( -, -, 5)
    
    Notes:
    
    [a]       club reached quarterfinals of each tournament at least once
    [a s]     club reached semifinals of each tournament at least once
    [a s f]   club reached final of each tournament at least once
    [a s f w] club won each tournament at least once
    
    As can easily be seen, nearly three quarters (59) of the 81 clubs listed above listed above reached the quarterfinals of each of the three tournaments on at least one occasion (all are marked by [a] at the end of their record); two thirds of those (39 clubs) have reached the semifinal stage in all three tournaments at least once (additionally marked by an "s"); all 17 clubs to have reached all three finals are marked by an "f" and all 6 to have won all three tournaments by a "w".
    In addition, the following 10 clubs also reached all quarterfinals at least once:
       FC Zürich                  4 ( 2, 1, 1)   [a]
       AEK (Athinai)              4 ( 1, 2, 1)   [a]
       MTK (Budapest)             4 ( 1, 2, 1)   [a]
       Hibernian (Edinburgh)      4 ( 1, 1, 2)   [a]
       FC Nantes                  4 ( 1, 1, 2)   [a]
       Wolverhampton Wanderers    4 ( 1, 1, 2)   [a]
       Atalanta                   3 ( 1, 1, 1)   [a]
       Baník Ostrava              3 ( 1, 1, 1)   [a]
       Dinamo Minsk               3 ( 1, 1, 1)   [a]
       Fenerbahçe                 3 ( 1, 1, 1)   [a]
    


    Consecutive Cups, Finals, Semifinals and Quarterfinals

    NB: the last digit always indicates the Cup: 1 for Champions' Cup or
        Champions League, 2 for Cup Winners' Cup, 3 for Fairs' or UEFA Cup
        or Europa League).  The letter before indicates the stage reached:
        W = winners, F = finalists, S = semifinalists, and Q = quarterfinalists.
    
    Series within the same competition are highlighted in italics, as long as 
    they're at least as long as the minimal length listed for the given category.
    

    Winning Cups in Successive Years

    It has become increasingly unusual for a club to win European trophies (whether the same or another) in successive seasons; it happened only five times (Porto, Sevilla (twice), Chelsea and Real Madrid) in the last quarter of a century, while it was commonplace in the sixties and seventies and to a lesser extent the eighties.

     5 Real Madrid               WWWWW     (1956W1, 1957W1, 1958W1, 1959W1, 1960W1)
    
     3 Ajax                      WWW       (1971W1, 1972W1, 1973W1)         
       Bayern München            WWW       (1974W1, 1975W1, 1976W1)
       Liverpool                 WWW       (1976W3, 1977W1, 1978W1)
       Real Madrid               WWW       (2016W1, 2017W1, 2018W1)
       Sevilla                   WWW       (2014W3, 2015W3, 2016W3)
    
     2 Barcelona                 WW        (1958W3, 1960W3)
       Benfica                   WW        (1961W1, 1962W1)
       Valencia                  WW        (1962W3, 1963W3)
       Internazionale            WW        (1964W1, 1965W1)
       Milan                     WW        (1968W2, 1969W1)
       Nottingham Forest         WW        (1979W1, 1980W1)
       Juventus                  WW        (1984W2, 1985W1)
       Real Madrid               WW        (1985W3, 1986W3)
       Milan                     WW        (1989W1, 1990W1)
       Porto                     WW        (2003W3, 2004W1)
       Sevilla                   WW        (2006W3, 2007W3)
       Chelsea                   WW        (2012W1, 2013W3)
    
    NB: the first two editions of the Fairs' Cup, both won by Barcelona,
        stretched over several seasons (1955-58 and 1958-60).
    

    Reaching Finals in Successive Years

    Apart from Juventus and Real Madrid, no club has managed a series of three consecutive finals (irrespective of the competition) on more than one occasion.

     5 Real Madrid               WWWWW     (1956W1, 1957W1, 1958W1, 1959W1, 1960W1)
    
     4 Juventus                  WFFF      (1995F3, 1996W1, 1997F1, 1998F1)
    
     3 Ajax                      WWW       (1971W1, 1972W1, 1973W1)         
       Bayern München            WWW       (1974W1, 1975W1, 1976W1)
       Liverpool                 WWW       (1976W3, 1977W1, 1978W1)
       Real Madrid               WWW       (2016W1, 2017W1, 2018W1)
       Sevilla                   WWW       (2014W3, 2015W3, 2016W3)
       Benfica                   WWF       (1961W1, 1962W1, 1963F1)
       Valencia                  WWF       (1962W3, 1963W3, 1964F3)
       Anderlecht                WWF       (1976W2, 1977F2, 1978W2)
       Juventus                  WWF       (1983F1, 1984W2, 1985W1)
       Parma                     WWF       (1993W2, 1994F2, 1995W3)
       Barcelona                 WFF       (1960W3, 1961F1, 1962F3)
       Milan                     WFF       (1993F1, 1994W1, 1995F1)
    

    Reaching Semifinals in Successive Years

    Until Barcelona did so between 2007/08 and 2012/13, no club had managed a series of more than five consecutive seasons in which they reached a European semifinal. Real Madrid have since improved on their feat by reaching the last four in eight consecutive seasons between 2010/11 and 2017/18, after having twice set a five-season series. Paris Saint-Germain hold the peculiar (and unique) record of reaching the semifinals of all three traditional competitions in successive years (1992/93 to 1994/95).

     8 Real Madrid               WWWWSSSS  (2011S1, 2012S1, 2013S1, 2014W1, 2015S1, 2016W1, 2017W1, 2018W1)
    
     6 Barcelona                 WWSSSS    (2008S1, 2009W1, 2010S1, 2011W1, 2012S1, 2013S1)
    
     5 Real Madrid               WWWWW     (1956W1, 1957W1, 1958W1, 1959W1, 1960W1)
       Ajax                      WWWFS     (1969F1, 1970S3, 1971W1, 1972W1, 1973W1)
       Real Madrid               WWSSS     (1985W3, 1986W3, 1987S1, 1988S1, 1989S1)
       Juventus                  WFFFS     (1995F3, 1996W1, 1997F1, 1998F1, 1999S1)
       Paris Saint-Germain       WFSSS     (1993S3, 1994S2, 1995S1, 1996W2, 1997F2)
       Bayern München            WFSSS     (2012F1, 2013W1, 2014S1, 2015S1, 2016S1)
    
     4 Internazionale            WWFS      (1964W1, 1965W1, 1966S1, 1967F1)
       Real Madrid               WWSS      (2000W1, 2001S1, 2002W1, 2003S1)
       Borussia Mönchengladbach  WFFS      (1977F1, 1978S1, 1979W3, 1980F3)
    
     3 Bayern München            WWW       (1974W1, 1975W1, 1976W1)
       Liverpool                 WWW       (1976W3, 1977W1, 1978W1)
       Sevilla                   WWW       (2014W3, 2015W3, 2016W3)
       Benfica                   WWF       (1961W1, 1962W1, 1963F1)
       Valencia                  WWF       (1962W3, 1963W3, 1964F3)
       Anderlecht                WWF       (1976W2, 1977F2, 1978W2)
       Juventus                  WWF       (1983F1, 1984W2, 1985W1)
       Parma                     WWF       (1993W2, 1994F2, 1995W3)
       Chelsea                   WWS       (2012W1, 2013W3, 2014S1)
       Barcelona                 WFF       (1960W3, 1961F1, 1962F3) [also 1960S1, 1961Q3]
       Milan                     WFF       (1993F1, 1994W1, 1995F1)
       Real Zaragoza             WFS       (1964W3, 1965S2, 1966F3)
       Leeds United              WFS       (1966S3, 1967F3, 1968W3)
       Milan                     WFS       (1972S3, 1973W2, 1974F2)
       Tottenham Hotspur         WFS       (1972W3, 1973S3, 1974F3)
       Borussia Mönchengladbach  WFS       (1973F3, 1974S2, 1975W3)
       Anderlecht                WFS       (1982S1, 1983W3, 1984F3)
       Ajax                      WFS       (1995W1, 1996F1, 1997S1)
       Milan                     WFS       (2005F1, 2006S1, 2007W1)
       Manchester United         WFS       (2007S1, 2008W1, 2009F1)
       Atlético Madrid           WFS       (2016F1, 2017S1, 2018W3)
       Bayern München            FSS       (1980S3, 1981S1, 1982F1)
       Chelsea                   FSS       (2007S1, 2008F1, 2009S1)
       Bayern München            SSS       (1989S3, 1990S1, 1991S1) 
    
    Running series have club name in italics.
    

    "Hibernating in Europe": Reaching Quarterfinals in Successive Years

    Traditionally reaching the quarterfinals of a European competition was equivalent to playing in Europe past the winter break; this no longer holds true thanks to UEFA's diluting events (the Champions League currently sees 16 clubs hibernate, the Europa League 32, for a total of 48 clubs, twice as many as in the past with three competitions).
    The only club to reach the quarterfinals of a European competition in at least nine consecutive seasons is Barcelona, who in 2016 improved on the record of eight such seasons set by Borussia Mönchengladbach in the seventies. Five other clubs managed to do so in at least seven consecutive seasons, with Bayern München establishing such a series three times.

    13 Barcelona                 WWWSSSSSQQQQQ (2008S1, 2009W1, 2010S1, 2011W1, 2012S1,
                                                2013S1, 2014Q1, 2015W1, 2016Q1, 2017Q1,
                                                2018Q1, 2019S1, 2020Q1)
    
     8 Real Madrid               WWWWSSSS      (2011S1, 2012S1, 2013S1, 2014W1, 2015S1,
                                                2016W1, 2017W1, 2018W1)
       Borussia Mönchengladbach  WWFFFSSQ      (1973F3, 1974S2, 1975W3, 1976Q1, 1977F1,
                                                1978S1, 1979W3, 1980F3)
    
     7 Real Madrid               WWWSSQQ       (1998W1, 1999Q1, 2000W1, 2001S1, 2002W1,
                                                2003S1, 2004Q1)
       Bayern München            WWWSQQQ       (1971Q3, 1972S2, 1973Q1, 1974W1, 1975W1,
                                                1976W1, 1977Q1)
       Juventus                  WWFFFSQ       (1993W3, 1994Q3, 1995F3, 1996W1, 1997F1,
                                                1998F1, 1999S1)
       Ajax                      WWFSQQQ       (1992W3, 1993Q3, 1994Q2, 1995W1, 1996F1,
                                                1997S1, 1998Q3)
       Bayern München            WFSSSSQ       (2012F1, 2013W1, 2014S1, 2015S1, 2016S1,
                                                2017Q1, 2018S1)
       Manchester United         WSSQQQQ       (1997S1, 1998Q1, 1999W1, 2000Q1, 2001Q1,
                                                2002S1, 2003Q1)
       Bayern München            FSSSSQQ       (1985S2, 1986Q1, 1987F1, 1988Q1, 1989S3,
                                                1990S1, 1991S1)
        
     6 Leeds United              WWFSSQ        (1966S3, 1967F3, 1968W3, 1969Q3, 1970S1,
                                                1971W3)
       Milan                     WWFSSQ        (2002S3, 2003W1, 2004Q1, 2005F1, 2006S1,
                                                2007W1)
       Borussia Dortmund         WFSSQQ        (1993F3, 1994Q3, 1995S3, 1996Q1, 1997W1,
                                                1998S1)
       Barcelona                 WSSSQQ        (1975S1, 1976S3, 1977Q3, 1978S3, 1979W2,
                                                1980Q2)
    
     5 Real Madrid               WWWWW         (1956W1, 1957W1, 1958W1, 1959W1, 1960W1)
       Ajax                      WWWFS         (1969F1, 1970S3, 1971W1, 1972W1, 1973W1)
       Liverpool                 WWFQQ         (1981Q1, 1982Q1, 1983Q1, 1984W1, 1985F1)
       Real Madrid               WWSSS         (1985W3, 1986W3, 1987S1, 1988S1, 1989S1)
       Manchester United         WFFSQ         (2007S1, 2008W1, 2009F1, 2010Q1, 2011F1)
       Atlético Madrid           WFFSQ         (2014F1, 2015Q1, 2016F1, 2017S1, 2018W3)
       Valencia                  WFFQQ         (2000F1, 2001F1, 2002Q3, 2003Q1, 2004W3)
       Paris Saint-Germain       WFSSS         (1993S3, 1994S2, 1995S1, 1996W2, 1997F2)
       Bayern München            WFSQQ         (1998Q1, 1999F1, 2000S1, 2001W1, 2002Q1)
       Real Madrid               WFSQQ         (1964F1, 1965Q1, 1966W1, 1967Q1, 1968S1)
       Benfica                   FFSQQ         (2010Q3, 2011S3, 2012Q1, 2013F3, 2014F3)
       Internazionale            SSQQQ         (2002S3, 2003S1, 2004Q3, 2005Q1, 2006Q1)
    
     4 Internazionale            WWFS          (1964W1, 1965W1, 1966S1, 1967F1)
       Anderlecht                WWFQ          (1975Q1, 1976W2, 1977F2, 1978W2)
       Juventus                  WWFQ          (1983F1, 1984W2, 1985W1, 1986Q1)
       Parma                     WWFQ          (1993W2, 1994F2, 1995W3, 1996Q2)
       Chelsea                   WWSQ          (2011Q1, 2012W1, 2013W3, 2014S1)
       Sampdoria                 WFFQ          (1989F2, 1990W2, 1991Q2, 1992F1)
       Milan                     WFFQ          (1993F1, 1994W1, 1995F1, 1996Q3)
       Real Zaragoza             WFSQ          (1964W3, 1965S2, 1966F3, 1967Q2)
       Barcelona                 WFSQ          (1994F1, 1995Q1, 1996S3, 1997W2)
       Barcelona                 WFQQ          (1986F1, 1987Q3, 1988Q3, 1989W2)
       Real Madrid               FFSQ          (1980S1, 1981F1, 1982Q3, 1983F3)
       Bayern München            FSSQ          (1980S3, 1981S1, 1982F1, 1983Q2)
       Liverpool                 FSSQ          (2007F1, 2008S1, 2009Q1, 2010S3)
       Celtic                    FSQQ          (1969Q1, 1970F1, 1971Q1, 1972S1)
       Bayern München            FSQQ          (2007Q1, 2008S3, 2009Q1, 2010F1)
       Barcelona                 SSSQ          (2000S1, 2001S3, 2002S1, 2003Q1)
       Benfica                   SQQQ          (1992Q1, 1993Q3, 1994S2, 1995Q1)
       Real Madrid               SQQQ          (1991Q1, 1992S3, 1993Q3, 1994Q2)
       Paris Saint-Germain       QQQQ          (2013Q1, 2014Q1, 2015Q1, 2016Q1)
    
    


    Domestically Worst Winners

    The worst finish a winner of a European Cup ever achieved in their domestic league in their winning season was 13th, by UEFA Cup winners Internazionale 1993/94:

    Italian Serie A 1993/94
          13.Internazionale     34 11  9 14  46-45 31
    


    Beating Holders

    The record for most eliminations of European trophy holders from the competition in the following season is held by Real Madrid with 9 such cases: on 8 occasions they eliminated the holders from the Champions' Cup, and on 3 occasions those of the UEFA Cup (twice in the Champions' Cup tournament).

    The only club to eliminate the holders of the trophy from each of the three tournaments (taking Fairs' Cup and UEFA Cup as one) is Anderlecht.

    All clubs to eliminate European trophy holders on 3 or more occasions

       (numbers between brackets indicate, respectively: eliminations of 
       Champions' Cup holders, eliminations of Cup Winners' Cup holders
       from the CWC, eliminations of Fairs'/UEFA cup holders from that
       tournament, eliminations of trophy holders from different tournament):
    
    11 Real Madrid          (8-0-1-2)
    
     7 Juventus             (6-0-0-1)
       Barcelona            (3-2-0-2)
    
     5 Internazionale       (3-0-1-1)
       Atlético Madrid      (2-2-0-1)
    
     4 Dynamo Kyiv          (3-0-0-1)
       Anderlecht           (1-2-1-0)
       Bayern München       (1-0-0-3)
    
     3 CSKA Sofia           (3-0-0-0)
       Milan                (2-1-0-0)
       Valencia             (0-1-1-1)
    
    Most successful countries in eliminating trophy holders:
    32 Spain               (14-8-3-7)
    
    20 Italy               (12-2-4-2)
    
    18 England              (4-4-6-4)
    
    14 (West) Germany       (3-2-5-4)
    
     8 Belgium              (1-4-2-1)
    
     5 Portugal             (1-1-2-1)
       France               (1-0-2-2)
       Scotland             (0-1-3-1)
    


    Hosting Abroad

    FK Crvena zvezda Beograd, winner of the 1990/91 European Champions' Cup, were forced to play their home matches abroad, due to the "unstable political situation", on eight separate occasions, probably the record for Europe in the 20th century. They played in 5 different cities in 4 different countries.

    17- 9-91 ChC  4-0  vs Portadown (Northern Ireland)  [in Széged, Hungary]
    23-10-91 ChC  3-1  vs Apollon Limassol (Cyprus)     [in Széged, Hungary]
    12-12-91 ChC  3-2  vs RSC Anderlecht (Belgium)      [in Budapest, Hungary]
    18- 3-92 ChC  1-0  vs Panathinaikos (Greece)        [in Sofia, Bulgaria]
     1- 4-92 ChC  1-3  vs Sampdoria UC (Italy)          [in Sofia, Bulgaria]
    20-10-98 UEFA 1-2  vs Olympique Lyonnais (France)   [in Bucuresti, Romania]
    14- 9-99 UEFA 0-1  vs Montpellier HSC (France)      [in Sofia, Bulgaria]
    28- 9-00 UEFA 3-1  vs Leicester City (England)      [in Wien, Austria]
    
    Total record:  8  5 0 3  16-10
    
    Information thanks to Milos Radulovic (mirad@galeb.etf.bg.ac.yu).
    

    In the 21st century, a club from Asia, Maccabi Haifa, 'improved' Crvena zvezda's record for playing European club matches at neutral venues. They qualified for the 2002/03 Champions League group stage but were forced to play all their European matches (two for Champions League qualifying, three in the Champions League group stage and one more in the UEFA Cup) outside of Israel due to safety concerns; their 6 matches in the 2002/03 season in Bulgaria and Cyprus consist a 'neutral hosting' record for a single season. During the 2003/04 UEFA Cup they overtook Crvena zvezda and after Israel attacked Lebanon in the summer of 2006, Israeli clubs were again forced to play home matches at neutral venues and Maccabi Haifa added two more matches to their record.

    31- 7-02 CLQ  4-0  vs Belshyna Babruisk (Belarus)   [in Lefkosia, Cyprus]
    13- 8-02 CLQ  2-0  vs SK Sturm Graz (Austria)       [in Sofia, Bulgaria]
    24- 9-02 CL   3-0  vs Olympiakos (Greece)           [in Lefkosia, Cyprus]
     1-10-02 CL   0-2  vs Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)    [in Lefkosia, Cyprus]
    29-10-02 CL   3-0  vs Manchester United (England)   [in Lefkosia, Cyprus]
    12-12-02 UEFA 1-4  vs AEK (Athinai)  (Greece)       [in Lefkosia, Cyprus]
    28- 8-03 UEFA 3-0  vs Cwmbran Town (Wales)          [in Izmir, Turkey]
    24- 9-03 UEFA 2-1  vs Publikum Celje (Slovenia)     [in Izmir, Turkey]
    11-12-03 UEFA 0-4  vs Valencia (Spain)              [in Rotterdam, Netherlands] 
    23- 8-06 CLQ  1-1  vs Liverpool (England)           [in Kyiv, Ukraine]
    14- 9-06 UEFA 1-1  vs Litex (Lovech) (Bulgaria)     [in Nijmegen, Netherlands]
    
    Total record: 11  6 2 3  20-13 
    
    Information thanks to Dale Arnett (dalearnett@yahoo.com)
    

    Records

    Highest win in one leg:

    Cup Winners' Cup
    1963/64, 2nd round: Sporting CP (Lisbon) 16-1 APOEL Nicosia
    
    

    Highest aggregate win:

    Cup Winners' Cup
    1971/72, 1st round: Jeunesse Hautcharage 0-8 Chelsea
                        Chelsea 13-0 Jeunesse Hautcharage
                 Chelsea win 21-0 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1972/73, 1st round: Feyenoord 9-0 US Rumelange
                        US Rumelange 0-12 Feyenoord
                 Feyenoord win 21-0 on aggregate
    
    

    Most goals in game:

    Cup Winners' Cup
    1963/64, 2nd round: Sporting CP (Lisbon) 16-1 APOEL (Lefkosia), total 17 goals
    
    

    Most goals in tie:

    Cup Winners' Cup
    1976/77, 1st round: Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 12-2 Reipas (Lahti)
                        Reipas (Lahti) 1-7 Levski-Spartak (Sofia)
                 Levski-Spartak (Sofia) win 19-3 on aggregate, total 22 goals
    
    

    Best come-backs after away defeat:

    Cup Winners' Cup
    1961/62, 1st round: FC La Chaux-de-Fonds 6-2 Leixões (Porto)
                        Leixões (Porto) 5-0 FC La Chaux-de-Fonds
                 Leixões win 7-6 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1984/85, 2nd round: Queens Park Rangers 6-2 Partizan (Beograd)
                        Partizan (Beograd) 4-0 Queens Park Rangers
                 6-6 on aggregate, Partizan Beograd win on away goals
    
    UEFA Cup
    1985/86, 3rd round: Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-1 Real Madrid
                        Real Madrid 4-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
                 5-5 on aggregate, Real Madrid win on away goal
    
    UEFA Cup
    1987/88, 3rd round: Honvéd 5-2 Panathinaikos [after 5-0]
                        Panathinaikos 5-1 Honvéd
                 Panathinaikos win 7-6 on aggregate
    
    Champions League
    2016/17, 1/8 final: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Barcelona
                        Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain
                 Barcelona win 6-5 on aggregate
    
    

    Best come-backs after home defeat:

    
    home loss by 3 goals
    
    UEFA Cup
    2009/10, 1st round: Dinamo Bucuresti 0-3 Slovan Liberec [awarded, abandoned at 0-2 in 87']
                        Slovan Liberec 0-3 Dinamo Bucuresti [aet]
                 3-3 on aggregate, Dinamo Bucuresti won 9-8 on penalties
    
    home loss by 2 goals
    
    Champions' Cup
    1968/69, quarterf.: Ajax 1-3 Benfica
                        Benfica 1-3 Ajax
             playoff:   Ajax 3-0 Benfica (aet, in Paris)
    
    UEFA Cup
    1971/72, 1st round: Lierse SK 0-2 Leeds United
                        Leeds United 0-4 Lierse SK
                 Lierse SK win 4-2 on aggregate
    
    Cup Winners' Cup
    1984/85, 1st round: FC Metz 2-4 Barcelona
                        Barcelona 1-4 FC Metz [after 1-0 at 33']
                 Metz win 6-5 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1988/89, 3rd round: Bayern München 0-2 Internazionale
                        Internazionale 1-3 Bayern München
                 3-3 on aggregate, Bayern München win on away goals
    
    UEFA Cup
    1996/97, 1st prel.: Sliema Wanderers 1-3 Margveti Zestafoni
                        Margveti Zestafoni 0-3 Sliema Wanderers
                 Sliema Wanderers win 4-3 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1996/97, 3rd round: Brøndby IF 1-3 Karlsruher SC [after 0-3 at 81']
                        Karlsruher SC 0-5 Brøndby IF
                 Brøndby IF win 6-3 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1998/99, 1st round: VfB Stuttgart 1-3 Feyenoord
                        Feyenoord 0-3 VfB Stuttgart
                 VfB Stuttgart win 4-3 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    2004/05, 2nd qual.: Rapid Wien 0-2 Rubin Kazan
                        Rubin Kazan 0-3 Rapid Wien
                 Rapid Wien win 3-2 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    2005/06, 1st round: Maccabi Petah-Tikva 0-2 Partizan Beograd
                        Partizan Beograd 2-5 Maccabi Petah-Tikva
                 Maccabi Petah-Tikva win 5-4 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    2010/11, 2nd qual.: Anorthosis Famagusta 0-2 Sibenik
                        Sibenik 0-3 Anorthosis Famagusta [aet]
                 Anorthosis Famagusta win 3-2 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    2010/11, 1st round: Sporting CP (Lisboa) 0-2 Brøndby IF
                        Brøndby IF 0-3 Sporting CP (Lisboa)
                  Sporting CP (Lisboa) win 3-2 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    2011/12, 2nd qual.: FC Vaduz 0-2 Vojvodina Novi Sad
                        Vojvodina Novi Sad 1-3 FC Vaduz
                 3-3 on aggregate, FC Vaduz win on away goals
    
    UEFA Cup
    2013/14, 4th round: Sevilla FC 0-2 Betis Sevilla
                        Betis Sevilla 0-2 Sevilla FC
                 2-2 on aggregate, Sevilla win 4-3 on penalties
    
    Champions League
    2018/19, 1/8 final: Manchester United 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
                        Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Manchester United
                 3-3 on aggregate, Manchester United win on away goals
    
    

    Final come-backs:

    Fairs' Cup
    1969/70, final:     Anderlecht 3-1 Arsenal [after 3-0 at 81']
                        Arsenal 3-0 Anderlecht
                 Arsenal won 4-3 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1987/88, final:     Español 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen
                        Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Español [aet] [after 0-0 at 56']
                 3-3 on aggregate, Bayer Leverkusen won 3-2 on penalties
    
    

    Other remarkable come-backs:

    Cup Winners' Cup
    1985/86, quarterf.: Dynamo Dresden 2-0 Bayer Uerdingen
                        Bayer Uerdingen 7-3 Dynamo Dresden [after 1-3 halftime]
                 Uerdingen win 7-5 on aggregate
    
    UEFA Cup
    1989/90, 1st round: Levski-Spartak (Sofia) 0-0 Antwerp
                        Antwerp 4-3 Levski-Spartak (Sofia) [after 1-3 at 87']
                 Antwerp win 4-3 on aggregate
    


    Unbeaten Records

  • Manchester United have a record of 25 matches unbeaten in the European Cups.
  • Manchester United were unbeaten in 56 consecutive home matches in European Cups.

  • Champions' Cup/Champions League Trivia | Cup Winners' Cup Trivia | Fairs' Cup Trivia | UEFA Cup/Europa League Trivia

    About this document

    Thanks to Jack van Rijswijck, Martin Protzen and Antonio Veloso

    Prepared and maintained by Karel Stokkermans for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

    Author: Karel Stokkermans
    Last updated: 17 Sep 2020

    (C) Copyright Karel Stokkermans and RSSSF 1996/2029
    You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.