After the Mitropa Cup, the second important cup for club teams in Europe. It was played from 1949 to 1957 between the champions of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. After every four competitions, a country ranking was made based on the club performances in those years. After the introduction of the European Cups, it disappeared.
1949 Barcelona 1950 Benfica 1951 Milan 1952 Barcelona ---- country ranking 49-52: Spain 1953 Stade Reims 1954 not played 1955 Real Madrid 1956 Milan 1957 Real Madrid ---- country ranking 53-57: Spain
Barcelona 2 Milan 2 Real Madrid 2 Benfica 1 Stade de Reims 1
Spain 4 Italy 2 France 1 Portugal 1
1949 Barcelona 2-1 Sporting CP
1950 Benfica 3-3 Girondins de Bordeaux AET
Benfica 2-1 Girondins de Bordeaux AET
1951 Milan 5-0 Lille OSC
1952 Barcelona 1-0 OGC Nice
1953 Stade de Reims 3-0 Milan
1954 not played
1955 Real Madrid 2-0 Stade de Reims
1956 Milan 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
1957 Real Madrid 1-0 Benfica
1949-52 Spain 12 France 10 Italy 9 Portugal 9
1953-57 Spain 12 Italy 11 France 9 Portugal 8
win fin
Spain 4 5
Italy 2 3
France 1 5
Portugal 1 3
8 16
1949 (in Madrid and Barcelona)
Semifinals
Sporting CP 3-1 Torino
Barcelona 5-0 Stade de Reims
Third Place Match
Torino 5-3 Stade de Reims
Final [July 3, Estadio Chamartín, Madrid]
Barcelona 2-1 Sporting CP
Barcelona: Velasco, Calvet, Curta, Calo, Gonzalvo III, Gonzalvo II, Basora, Seguer,
Canal, Cesar, Navarro
Sporting: Azevedo, Octavio, Vazquez, Juvenal, Canário, Veríssimo, Correira, Vasques,
Peyroteo, Travassos, Albano
Goals for Barcelona: Basora, Seguer
1950 (in Lisboa)
Semifinals
Girondins Bordeaux 4-2 Atlético de Madrid
Benfica 3-0 Lazio
Third Place Match
Atlético de Madrid 2-1 Lazio
Final [June 17, Estádio Nacional, Lisboa]
Benfica 3-3 Girondins de Bordeaux [aet]
Final Replay [June 18, Estádio Nacional, Lisboa]
Benfica 2-1 Girondins de Bordeaux [aet; after 120 minutes,
sudden death extra time was played, the winning goal came in the 146th minute]
Benfica: Bastos, Jacinto, Fernandes, Félix, Moreira, José da Costa, Rogério, Corona,
Arsénio, Julinho, Rosário
1951 (in Milano and Torino)
Semifinals
Milan 4-1 Atlético de Madrid
Lille OSC 1-1 Sporting CP
Semifinal Replay
Lille OSC 6-4 Sporting CP
Third Place Match
Atlético de Madrid 3-1 Sporting CP
Final [June 24, San Siro, Milano]
Milan 5-0 Lille OSC
Milan: Buffon, Silvestri, Bonomi, Annovazzi, Tognon, De Grandi, Burini, Gren,
Nordahl, Lienholm, Vicariotto
Lille: Angel, Van Cappelen, Poitevin, Dubreucq, Sommerlynck, Van der Hart,
Jansen, Tempowsky, Strappe, Vincent, Lechantre
Goals: Nordahl 32, 57, 67, Burini 40, Annovazzi 70
Referee: Scherz (Switzerland)
1952 (in Paris)
Semifinals
OGC Nice 4-2 Sporting CP
Barcelona 4-2 Juventus
Third Place Match
Juventus 3-2 Sporting CP
Final [Jun 29, Parc des Princes, Paris]
Barcelona 1-0 OGC Nice
Barcelona: Ramallets, Martin, Biosca, Seguer, Bosch, Escudero, Basora, César, Kubala,
Aldecoa, Manchon
OGC: Domingo, Kiroud, Martinez, Gonzalez, Poterin, Belver, Courteaux, Nurember, Carre,
Franzoni, Bentifour
Goal: César
1949-52 Countrywise Ranking
Country 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Points (4-3-2-1)
Spain 2 2 12
France 3 1 10
Italy 1 2 1 9
Portugal 1 1 2 9
1953 (in Lisboa and Porto)
Semifinals
Stade de Reims 2-1 Valencia
Milan 4-3 Sporting CP [aet]
Third Place Match
Sporting CP 4-1 Valencia
Final [Jun 7, Estadio da Luz, Lisboa]
Stade de Reims 3-0 Milan
Milan: Buffon, Silvestri, Zagatti, Annovazzi, Tognon, Celio, Burini, Gren,
Nordahl, Liedholm, Frignani.
Stade Reims: Sinibaldi, Zimny, Marche, Penverne, Jonquet, Cicci, Appel,
Glovacki, Kopa, Templin, Méano.
Goals: Kopa 2, Meano
Referee: Vienza Costa (Portugal)
1955 (in Paris)
Semifinals
Real Madrid 2-0 Belenenses
Stade de Reims 3-2 Milan [aet; after 120 minutes,
sudden death extra time was played, the winning goal came in the 138th minute]
Third Place Match
Milan 3-1 Belenenses
Final [Jun 26, Parc des Princes, Paris]
Real Madrid 2-0 Stade de Reims
Madrid: J.Alonso, Navarro, Oliva, Lesmes II, Múñoz, Zárraga, Molowny, Pérez Payá,
Di Stéfano, Rial, Gento
Stade: Sinibaldi, Zimny, Jonquet, Giraudo, Penverne, Siatka, Hidalgo, Glovacki, Kopa,
Bliard, Templin
Goals: Rial (2)
Referee: Campos (Portugal)
1956 (in Milano)
Semifinals
Milan 4-2 Benfica
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 OGC Nice
Third Place Match
Benfica 2-1 OGC Nice
Final [Jul 3, Arena Civica, Milano]
Milan 3-1 Athletic Bilbao
Milan: Buffon, Fassetta, Zagatti, Liedholm, C.Maldini, Radice, Mariani, Bagnoli,
Dal Monte, Schiaffino, Frignani.
Athletic Bilbao: Carmelo, Orue, Trapeo, Maui, Goraj, Maguregui, Arteche,
Marcaida, Arieta, Uribe, Gainza.
Goals: Bagnoli 21, Dal Monte 80, Schiaffino 88; Arteche 50
Referee: Guigue (France)
1957 (in Madrid)
Semifinals
Benfica 1-0 AS Saint-Etienne
Real Madrid 5-1 Milan
Third Place Match
Milan 4-3 AS Saint-Etienne
Final [Jun 23, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid]
Real Madrid 1-0 Benfica
Madrid: J.Alonso, Torres, Marquitos, Lesmes II, Múñoz, A.Rúiz, Joseíto, Kopa,
Di Stéfano, Rial, Gento
Benfica: Bastos, Calado, Serra, Angelo; Zehinho, Alfredo, Palmeiro, Coluna, Águas,
Salvador, Cavem
Goal: Di Stéfano 50
Referee: Lequesne (France)
1953-57 Countrywise Ranking
Country 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Points (4-3-2-1)
Spain 2 1 1 12
Italy 1 1 2 11
France 1 1 2 9
Portugal 1 2 1 8
Thanks to Frédéric Pauron, Paulo Martins, Diego Barrales Latorre (zelarra821@gmail.com), Erik Garin and Luis Javier Bravo Mayor for additions and corrections
Data on finals thanks to Raúl Torre
Prepared and maintained by Karel Stokkermans and Osvaldo José Gorgazzi for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Authors: Karel Stokkermans and Osvaldo José Gorgazzi
Last updated: 17 Dec 2023
(C) Copyright Karel Stokkermans, Osvaldo José Gorgazzi and RSSSF
1996/2023
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
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