The European Cup Finals 1955-56 and 1956-57

By Dennis Neri
for SoccerMyLife.com

Published: September 1, 2010

1955/56

Real Madrid 4 Stade de Reims 3

Rial 2, Di Stefano, Marquitos Leblond, Templin, Hidalgo

Real Madrid: Alonso, Atienza, Marquitos, Lesmes, Munoz (capt), Zarraga, Joseito, Marsal, Di Stefano, Rial , Gento

Stade de Reims: Jacquet, Zimny, Jonquet (capt), Giraudo, Leblond, Siatka, Hidalgo, Glovacki, Kopa, Bliard, Templin

On June 13, 1956, 38,000 spectators gathered at the Parc des Princes to see who would be crowned the first ever-European champions.

After six minutes, Reims were ahead as a free kick from Kopa – who had already been signed by Real to play for them from the start of the following season – reached the head of Michel Leblond who sent the ball looping over Alonso in goal and a Jean Templin goal soon afterwards gave the Frenchmen a two goal lead.

A fine run and shot from Di Stefano brought Real back into the game, however, with a 14th minute goal and Rial’s header from a corner brought the scores level before half-time.

Michel Hidalgo headed Reims into a 3-2 lead from another Kopa free kick just after the hour.

Real needed something special and it was a surprise run and strike from centre-back Manuel Marquitos on shot appeared to be heading wide of the goal, but a deflection off the leg of a defender sent it past Jacquet in the Reims goal to bring the scores level 67 minutes.

With eleven minutes remaining, a second from Rial, after a great run and cross from Gento, gave Madrid the lead for the first time in the match that they managed to hold on to.

1956/57

Real Madrid 2 Fiorentina 0

Di Stefano, Gento

Real Madrid: Alonso, Torres, Marquitos, Lesmes, Munoz (capt), Zarraga, Kopa, Mateos, Di Stefano, Rial, Gento

Fiorentina: Sarti, Magnini, Orzan, Cervato (capt), Scaramucci, Segato, Julinho, Gratton, Virgili, Montuori, Prini

The final was played in Real’s own newly christened Bernabeu Stadium in front of a huge 124,000 crowd.

Before the game began, Real officials were angered by the Italians insistence on playing the game in daylight.

Having spent £100,000 on the biggest and best floodlights in the world specifically for this one game, those in charge at the Bernabeu were none too impressed.

Mateos went down in the penalty area, Leopold Horn, the visibly nervous Dutch referee, awarded a penalty kick to Real, despite the attempts of the Italian players to pull him towards a linesman who a few seconds earlier had flagged for offside.

Di Stefano converted the resulting penalty and 6 minutes later, Gento scored from a Kopa assist that gave Real a 2-0 win and the title of European champions for the 2nd time.

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Author: Dennis Neri
Article Source: EzineArticles.com