The first European Cup final, won by Real Madrid 4–3 over Reims, launched a competition that became football's most prestigious club tournament.
Key Facts
- Final score
- Real Madrid 4–3 Stade de Reims
- Attendance
- 38,000 people
- Venue
- Parc des Princes, Paris
- Date
- 13 June 1956
- Consecutive titles won by Madrid
- 5 titles
- Reims' early lead
- 2–0 within 10 minutes
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
UEFA launched the inaugural European Cup in 1955–56 to determine the best club side across the continent. Real Madrid advanced by defeating AC Milan 5–4 on aggregate, while Stade de Reims eliminated Hibernian 3–0 on aggregate, setting up the first-ever final between the Spanish and French champions.
Played at the Parc des Princes on 13 June 1956, the match saw Reims race to a 2–0 lead through Leblond and Templin before Madrid levelled via Di Stéfano and Rial. After Hidalgo restored Reims' lead on 62 minutes, Marquitos and Rial scored in the 67th and 79th minutes to give Real Madrid a 4–3 victory.
Real Madrid's victory inaugurated a dynasty that produced five consecutive European Cup titles. The competition itself grew into the UEFA Champions League, the world's foremost annual club football competition, and the final established the template for the prestige the tournament would carry in subsequent decades.