# 1980–81 European Cup

The 1980–81 European Cup was the 26th season of the European Cup football club tournament, and was won for a third time by Liverpool, who beat six-time champions Real Madrid in the final. In the 11 seasons up to and including this one, there were only four winners of the European Cup (Ajax, Bayern Munich, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool), but there were eleven different runners-up. This sequence was ended the following year, when Bayern Munich lost to first-time finalists Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest, the defending champions, were eliminated by CSKA Sofia in the first round.

## Teams

| Dinamo Tirana (1st) | Austria Wien (1st) | Club Brugge (1st) |
| CSKA Sofia (1st) | APOEL (1st) | Baník Ostrava (1st) |
| Esbjerg (1st) | Liverpool (1st) | Nottingham Forest (5th) |
| OPS (1st) | Nantes (1st) | BFC Dynamo (1st) |
| Bayern Munich (1st) | Olympiacos (1st) | Budapest Honvéd (1st) |
| ÍBV (1st) | Limerick (1st) | Internazionale (1st) |
| Jeunesse Esch (1st) | Valletta (1st) | Ajax (1st) |
| Linfield (1st) | Viking (1st) | Szombierki Bytom (1st) |
| Sporting CP (1st) | Universitatea Craiova (1st) | Aberdeen (1st) |
| Real Madrid (1st) | Halmstad (1st) | Basel (1st) |
| Trabzonspor (1st) | Spartak Moscow (1st) | Red Star Belgrade (1st) |

## Preliminary round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Budapest Honvéd | 11–0 | Valletta | 8–0 | 3–0 |

### Second leg

Budapest Honvéd won 11–0 on aggregate.

## Bracket

| Round of 32 | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final | |
| Aberdeen | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Austria Wien | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Austria Wien | 0 | 0 | 0 | Aberdeen | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Liverpool | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OPS | 1 | 1 | 2 | Liverpool | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Liverpool | 1 | 10 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Liverpool | 1 | 10 | 11 | | | | | Liverpool | 5 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | CSKA Sofia | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| CSKA Sofia | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | CSKA Sofia | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 | 0 | CSKA Sofia | 4 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Szombierki Bytom | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Trabzonspor | 2 | 0 | 2 | Szombierki Bytom | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Szombierki Bytom | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Szombierki Bytom | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | Liverpool (a) | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bayern Münich | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| Olympiacos | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bayern Münich | 0 | 1 | 1 | | |
| Bayern Münich | 4 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bayern Münich | 4 | 3 | 7 | Bayern Münich | 5 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Ajax | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dinamo Tirana | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ajax | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ajax | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ajax | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | Bayern Münich | 2 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Baník Ostrava | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| ÍBV | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | Baník Ostrava | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Baník Ostrava | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Baník Ostrava | 1 | 1 | 2 | Baník Ostrava (a) | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | BFC Dynamo | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| BFC Dynamo | 3 | 1 | 4 | BFC Dynamo | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| APOEL | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| APOEL | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Liverpool | 1 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Real Madrid | 0 | |
| Jeunesse Esch | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Real Madrid | 0 |
| Spartak Moscow | 5 | 4 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Spartak Moscow | 5 | 4 | 9 | Spartak Moscow | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Esbjerg | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Halmstad | 0 | 2 | 2 | Esbjerg | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Esbjerg | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Esbjerg | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | Spartak Moscow | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Real Madrid | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Limerick | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | Real Madrid | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| Real Madrid | 2 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Real Madrid | 2 | 5 | 7 | Real Madrid | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Budapest Honvéd | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sporting CP | 0 | 0 | 0 | Budapest Honvéd | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Budapest Honvéd | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Budapest Honvéd | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Real Madrid | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inter Milan | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| Linfield | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Inter Milan | 0 | 1 | 1 | | |
| Nantes | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nantes | 1 | 2 | 3 | Nantes | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Inter Milan | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Inter Milan | 2 | 1 | 3 | Inter Milan | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Universitatea Craiova | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Universitatea Craiova | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | Inter Milan | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Club Brugge | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Basel | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basel | 1 | 4 | 5 | Basel | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Red Star Belgrade | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Viking | 2 | 1 | 3 | Red Star Belgrade | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Red Star Belgrade | 3 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Aberdeen | 1–0 | Austria Wien | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| OPS | 2–11 | Liverpool | 1–1 | 1–10 |
| CSKA Sofia | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Trabzonspor | 2–4 | Szombierki Bytom | 2–1 | 0–3 |
| Olympiacos | 2–7 | Bayern Munich | 2–4 | 0–3 |
| Dinamo Tirana | 0–3 | Ajax | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| ÍBV | 1–2 | Baník Ostrava | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| BFC Dynamo | 4–2 | APOEL | 3–0 | 1–2 |
| Jeunesse Esch | 0–9 | Spartak Moscow | 0–5 | 0–4 |
| Halmstad | 2–3 | Esbjerg | 0–0 | 2–3 |
| Limerick | 2–7 | Real Madrid | 1–2 | 1–5 |
| Sporting CP | 0–3 | Budapest Honvéd | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Linfield | 0–3 | Nantes | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| Internazionale | 3–1 | Universitatea Craiova | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Club Brugge | 1–5 | Basel | 0–1 | 1–4 |
| Viking | 3–7 | Red Star Belgrade | 2–3 | 1–4 |

### Second leg

Aberdeen won 1–0 on aggregate.
Liverpool won 11–2 on aggregate.
CSKA Sofia won 2–0 on aggregate.
Szombierki Bytom won 4–2 on aggregate.
Bayern Munich won 7–2 on aggregate.
Ajax won 3–0 on aggregate.
Baník Ostrava won 2–1 on aggregate.
BFC Dynamo won 4–2 on aggregate.
Spartak Moscow won 9–0 on aggregate.
Esbjerg won 3–2 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 7–2 on aggregate.
Budapest Honvéd won 3–0 on aggregate.
Nantes won 3–0 on aggregate.
Internazionale won 3–1 on aggregate.
Basel won 5–1 on aggregate.
Red Star Belgrade won 7–3 on aggregate.

## Second Round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Aberdeen | 0–5 | Liverpool | 0–1 | 0–4 |
| CSKA Sofia | 5–0 | Szombierki Bytom | 4–0 | 1–0 |
| Bayern Munich | 6–3 | Ajax | 5–1 | 1–2 |
| Baník Ostrava | 1–1 (a) | BFC Dynamo | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Spartak Moscow | 3–2 | Esbjerg | 3–0 | 0–2 |
| Real Madrid | 3–0 | Budapest Honvéd | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Nantes | 2–3 | Internazionale | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Basel | 1–2 | Red Star Belgrade | 1–0 | 0–2 |

### Second leg

Liverpool won 5–0 on aggregate.
CSKA Sofia won 5–0 on aggregate.
Bayern Munich won 6–3 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate; Baník Ostrava won on away goals.
Spartak Moscow won 3–2 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 3–0 on aggregate.
Internazionale won 3–2 on aggregate.
Red Star Belgrade won 2–1 on aggregate.

## Quarter-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Liverpool | 6–1 | CSKA Sofia | 5–1 | 1–0 |
| Bayern Munich | 6–2 | Baník Ostrava | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Spartak Moscow | 0–2 | Real Madrid | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| Internazionale | 2–1 | Red Star Belgrade | 1–1 | 1–0 |

### Second leg

Liverpool won 6–1 on aggregate.
Bayern Munich won 6–2 on aggregate.
Real Madrid won 2–0 on aggregate.
Internazionale won 2–1 on aggregate.

## Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Liverpool | 1–1 (a) | Bayern Munich | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Real Madrid | 2–1 | Internazionale | 2–0 | 0–1 |

### Second leg

1–1 on aggregate; Liverpool won on away goals.
Real Madrid won 2–1 on aggregate.

## Top scorers

The top scorers from the 1980–81 European Cup (excluding preliminary round) are as follows:
| Rank | Name | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Terry McDermott | Liverpool | 6 |
| 1 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Bayern Munich | 6 |
| 1 | Graeme Souness | Liverpool | 6 |
| 4 | Tsvetan Yonchev | CSKA Sofia | 5 |
| 5 | Alessandro Altobelli | Internazionale | 4 |
| 5 | Yuri Gavrilov | Spartak Moscow | 4 |
| 5 | Dieter Hoeneß | Bayern Munich | 4 |
| 8 | Juanito | Real Madrid | 3 |
| 8 | Vagiz Khidiyatullin | Spartak Moscow | 3 |
| 8 | Srebrenko Repčić | Red Star Belgrade | 3 |
| 8 | Santillana | Real Madrid | 3 |
| 8 | Frank Arnesen | AFC Ajax | 3 |