Editing UEFA Champions League (section)

===1955–1967: Beginnings===
[[File:Di stefano real madrid cf (cropped).png|thumb|upright|[[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] (pictured in 1959) led Real Madrid to five consecutive European Cup titles between 1956 and 1960.]]
The first European Cup took place during the [[1955–56 European Cup|1955–56]] season.<ref name="1956S">{{cite news|title=1955/56 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1955/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091727/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1955/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1956R">{{cite news|title=European Champions' Cup 1955–56&nbsp;– Details|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195556det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=17 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717040058/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195556det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sixteen teams participated (some by invitation): [[AC Milan]] (Italy), [[Aarhus Gymnastikforening|AGF Aarhus]] (Denmark), [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] (Belgium), [[Djurgårdens IF Fotboll|Djurgården]] (Sweden), [[Gwardia Warszawa]] (Poland), [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] (Scotland), [[FK Partizan|Partizan]] ([[Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]), [[PSV Eindhoven]] (Netherlands), [[SK Rapid Wien|Rapid Wien]] (Austria), [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] (Spain), [[Rot-Weiss Essen]] ([[West Germany]]), [[1. FC Saarbrücken|Saarbrücken]] ([[Saar (protectorate)|Saar]]), [[Servette FC|Servette]] (Switzerland), [[Sporting CP]] (Portugal), [[Stade de Reims|Reims]] (France) and [[MTK Budapest FC|Vörös Lobogó]] (Hungary).<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/>

The first European Cup match took place on 4 September 1955, and ended in a 3–3 draw between Sporting CP and Partizan.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The first goal in European Cup history was scored by [[João Baptista Martins]] of Sporting CP.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The inaugural final took place at the [[Parc des Princes]] between Stade de Reims and Real Madrid on 13 June 1956.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid">{{cite news|title=Trofeos de Fútbol|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm|publisher=[[Real Madrid CF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091003154110/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm|archive-date=3 October 2009}}</ref> The Spanish squad came back from behind to win 4–3 thanks to goals from [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] and [[Marcos Alonso Imaz|Marquitos]], as well as two goals from [[Héctor Rial]].<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid"/> Real Madrid successfully defended the trophy [[1956–57 European Cup|next season]] in their home stadium, the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]], against [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]].<ref name="1957S">{{cite news|title=1956/57 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924071336/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1957R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1956–57|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195657det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404171739/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195657det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After a scoreless first half, Real Madrid scored twice in six minutes to defeat the Italians.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1957S"/><ref name="1957R"/> In [[1957–58 European Cup|1958]], Milan failed to capitalise after going ahead on the scoreline twice, only for Real Madrid to equalise.<ref name="1958S">{{cite news|title=1957/58 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1957/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924061512/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1957/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1958R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1957–58|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195758det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129103236/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195758det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The final, held in [[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], went to extra time where [[Francisco Gento]] scored the game-winning goal to allow Real Madrid to retain the title for the third consecutive season.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1958S"/><ref name="1958R"/>

In a rematch of the first final, Real Madrid faced Stade Reims at the [[MHPArena|Neckarstadion]] for the [[1959 European Cup Final|1959 final]], and won 2–0.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1959S">{{cite news|title=1958/59 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1958/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917155319/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1958/index.html|archive-date=17 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1959R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1958–59|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195859det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=1 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801050547/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195859det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> West German side [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] became the first team not to compete in the Latin cup to reach the European Cup final.<ref name=latin/><ref name="1960S">{{cite news|title=1959/60 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1959/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924061517/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1959/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1960R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1959–60|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195960det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201093835/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195960det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[1960 European Cup Final|1960 final]] holds the record for the most goals scored, with Real Madrid beating Eintracht Frankfurt 7–3 at [[Hampden Park]], courtesy of four goals by [[Ferenc Puskás]] and a [[hat-trick]] by Alfredo Di Stéfano.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1960S"/><ref name="1960R"/> This was Real Madrid's fifth consecutive title, a record that still stands today.<ref name="Winners"/>

Real Madrid's reign ended in the [[1960–61 European Cup|1960–61 season]] when [[El Clásico|bitter rivals]] [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] dethroned them in the first round.<ref name="1961S">{{cite news|title=1960/61 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1960/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924061523/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1960/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1961R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1960–61|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196061det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173136/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196061det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Barcelona were defeated in the final by Portuguese side [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] 3–2 at the [[Wankdorf Stadium]].<ref name="1961S"/><ref name="1961R"/><ref name="Benfica">{{cite news|title=Anos 60: A "década de ouro"|url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/DecadaaDecada/Decada60/decada60.asp|publisher=[[S.L. Benfica]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005111812/http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/DecadaaDecada/Decada60/decada60.asp|archive-date=5 October 2007}}</ref> Reinforced by [[Eusébio]], Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5–3 at the [[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]] in Amsterdam and kept the title for a [[1961–62 European Cup|second consecutive season]].<ref name="Benfica"/><ref name="1962S">{{cite news|title=1961/62 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1961/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091733/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1961/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1962R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1961–62|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196162det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223213129/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196162det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Benfica wanted to repeat Real Madrid's successful run of the 1950s after reaching the showpiece event of the [[1962–63 European Cup]], but a brace from Brazilian-Italian [[José Altafini]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] gave the spoils to Milan, making the trophy leave the [[Iberian Peninsula]] for the first time ever.<ref name="1963S">{{cite news|title=1962/63 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1962/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924080456/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1962/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1963R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1962–63|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196263det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=15 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715121543/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196263det.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ACMilan1963">{{cite news|title=Coppa Campioni 1962/63|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/club/palmares/cdc1962_63|publisher=Associazione Calcio Milan|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405192330/http://www.acmilan.com/it/club/palmares/cdc1962_63|archive-date=5 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Inter Milan]] beat an ageing Real Madrid 3–1 at the [[Ernst-Happel-Stadion]] to win the [[1963–64 European Cup|1963–64 season]] and replicate their local-rival's success.<ref name="1964S">{{cite news|title=1963/64 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1963/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924091738/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1963/index.html|archive-date=24 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1964R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1963–64|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196364det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=18 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218134207/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196364det.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Inter1964">{{cite news|title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni&nbsp;– 1963/64|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=14|publisher=FC Internazionale Milano|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518034450/http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=14|archive-date=18 May 2006}}</ref> The title stayed in Milan for the [[1964–65 European Cup|third year in a row]] after Inter beat Benfica 1–0 at their home ground, the [[San Siro]].<ref name="1965S">{{cite news|title=1964/65 European Champions Clubs' Cup|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1964/index.html|website=[[UEFA]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918123515/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1964/index.html|archive-date=18 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="1965R">{{cite news|title=Champions' Cup 1964–65|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196465det.html|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|archive-date=12 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912212227/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec196465det.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Inter1965">{{cite news|title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni&nbsp;– 1964/65|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=15|publisher=FC Internazionale Milano|date=31 January 2010|access-date=23 May 2010|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518034512/http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=15|archive-date=18 May 2006}}</ref> Under the leadership of [[Jock Stein]], Scottish club [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] beat Inter Milan 2–1 in the 1967 final to become the first British club to win the European Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0045/print.shtml |title=A Sporting Nation&nbsp;– Celtic win European Cup 1967 |work=BBC Scotland |access-date=28 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209222246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0045/print.shtml |archive-date=9 December 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/05/20/celtic_history/ |title=Celtic immersed in history before UEFA Cup final |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=20 May 2003 |access-date=15 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111162522/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/05/20/celtic_history/ |archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref> The Celtic players that day, all of whom were born within {{convert|30|mi|km}} of Glasgow, subsequently became known as the "[[Lisbon Lions]]".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/nowyouknowsoccer0000lenn |url-access=registration |quote=now you know soccer who were the lisbon lions. |page=[https://archive.org/details/nowyouknowsoccer0000lenn/page/143 143] |title=Now You Know Soccer |first=Doug |last=Lennox |publisher=Dundurn Press |isbn=978-1-55488-416-2 |year=2009}}</ref>