Benfica's 3–2 victory over Barcelona in 1961 marked the first European Cup final won by a club other than Real Madrid.
Key Facts
- Date
- 31 May 1961
- Venue
- Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
- Final Score
- Benfica 3–2 Barcelona
- First-time Winners
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Previous Champions Absent
- Real Madrid (5 consecutive titles)
- Coluna's goal (minute)
- 55th minute volley from outside penalty area
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Real Madrid had dominated the European Cup since its inception, winning the first five consecutive finals. By 1961, two other major European clubs — Benfica of Portugal and Barcelona of Spain — had progressed to challenge for the title, setting up the first final without the Spanish giants.
The 1961 European Cup final was played on 31 May 1961 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland. Benfica defeated Barcelona 3–2 to claim their first European Cup. A notable moment came when injured midfielder Mário Coluna, playing through a broken nose sustained in the eighth minute, volleyed in Benfica's decisive third goal from outside the penalty area in the 55th minute.
Benfica's victory ended Real Madrid's unbroken run of European Cup titles and established the Portuguese club as a major force in European football. It signalled that dominance of the competition was no longer confined to a single club, opening a new era of competition across the continent.