This Day in History: 2022-12-12

Nr. 363

REAL MADRID WIN FIFTH EUROPEAN CUP (1960)

In front of an awe-struck record crowd of nearly 128,000 crammed into Hampden Park, Real Madrid produced arguably the greatest ever performance by a club side to win their fifth consecutive European Cup, as they swept aside Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3. «We were aware that the day was something special, even for us,» recalled Francisco Gento. «I do not think any of us wanted the referee to end the game and I think that was true for the crowd also. I think it was our best display because of the quality of the goals.»
In a repeat of two of their previous four European Cup finals, Madrid actually conceded the first goal when Richard Kress scored from Erwin Stein’s cross after 18 minutes. This roused Madrid and they would score an incredible six unanswered goals in the next 55 minutes with a wonderful display of fluid, attacking football. «It was a fantasy staged in heaven,» said Celtic’s 1967 European Cup winner Jimmy Johnstone, who was in the crowd that night.
Alfredo di Stefano scored twice to put Madrid in front, before Ferenc Puskas powered in a third to give the Spanish club a 3-1 lead at half-time. Nine minutes after the interval Puskas scored again from the penalty spot and soon after he completed his hat-trick with a rare header from a Gento cross.
Greedy for more, the Hungarian became the first, and so far only, player to score four goals in a European Cup final, when he got another on 69 minutes. Stein pulled one back for the Germans, before Di Stefano completed his own hat-trick straight from the restart. Stein scored again after 74 minutes and it ended 7-3.

Ferenc Puskas sends the Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Madrid’s heroes, Alfredo di Stefano and Puskas celebrate the win.