Real Madrid is one of the great soccer clubs in Europe. Having won 15 European Cups, a record number, there have been plenty of glory nights for the Spanish giants. These are some of the best Real Madrid games in European soccer.
The first European Cup final in the 1950s included Real Madrid and France’s Stade De Reims. Stade De Reims went two goals ahead in this game, but Madrid’s De Stefano pulled one back, and they equalized before half-time. In the second half, Reims went in front again, but Madrid were not beaten. Minutes later, they equalized and sealed victory with a fourth goal just over 10 minutes from time. So, Madrid lifted the first European Cup.
Real Madrid took on Catalonia giants Barcelona in the 1960 European Cup semi-final. Never have they met in the final, so this was the closest thing to an El Clásico European Cup final. Real Madrid were the dominant team in Europe, but Barcelona had pipped them to the Spanish league title. Both sides had great players, although in this European tie, Real outclassed Barcelona. In the first leg, they ran out 3-1 winners, and the second was all the better. At Barcelona’s stadium, Puskas struck twice, and Gento wrapped up a 3-1 victory. Madrid went through 6-2 on aggregate.
Having defeated Barcelona in the semi-finals, Real Madrid faced German side Frankfurt in the final. They were not a multinational side, primarily a German team, but one that included some impressive players such as the dynamic winger Kress. They had outclassed Celtic in the semi-finals, but Real were an entirely different proposition for the Germans.
The teams played out the 1960 European Cup final at a wind-swept Hampden Park. A record 127,00 attended the game. Further records would be set in the game, and it was the Germans who scored first within the first 20 minutes. Though they started as the stronger of the two sides, Madrid’s Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas began to overrun their defenders, and two Di Stefano goals within a few minutes put them 2-1 ahead. Puskas struck on the stroke of half-time to make it 3-1. The glut of goals continued in the second half as Puskas scored a further three goals to leave Madrid 6-1 up.
The game was all but over, but the Germans did pull one back before Di Stefano completed his hat-trick. A third Frankfurt goal left the final score Madrid 7, Frankfurt 3. A record number of goals had been scored in the European Cup final, and the victory ensured a fifth European Cup for Madrid.
In the UEFA Cup, Real Madrid has also had some great European games. Among the best was probably their home game against FC Koln in the 1986 final. Although the Germans went a goal ahead, their lead did not last long, as Madrid equalized and went a goal up shortly before the interval. In the second half, Madrid dominated, scoring three more goals to wrap up a great 5-1 victory. Although there was still a second leg, it all but ensured their victory despite FC Koln winning the return fixture in Germany 2-0.
Victories don’t get any sweeter for Real Madrid than this derby triumph in the 2014 Champions League final. They played Atlético Madrid in that game, but were 1-0 down for most of that match after Diego Godín scored in the first half. Sergio Ramos was their salvation when he scored a late equalizer in the 93rd minute.
Real Madrid then took a firm grip on the final in extra time when Gareth Bale put them ahead. A third from Marcelo Vieira all but sealed the victory and Champions League glory for Real. Christano Ronaldo then applied the coup de grace by converting a late penalty to win 4-1.
The most recent classic game in Real Madrid’s European campaigns was this enthralling 2022 Champions League semifinal against Manchester City. Man City were 4-3 ahead on aggregate when they visited the Bernabéu for the second leg of this semifinal clash. Then, they were 5-3 ahead when Riyad Mahrez put the visitors one up at the Bernabéu.
What followed was one of the most extraordinary comebacks seen in a Champions League knockout game. Two late Rodrygo Silva goals for Real Madrid at around the 90-minute mark levelled the aggregate score. Then, the referee awarded Madrid a penalty, which Karim Benzema put in the net to send the Bernabéu delirious. It was a semifinal triumph that led to European glory as Real Madrid won the somewhat less dramatic final, but this victory against City was certainly the most memorable of the campaign.
These were just a few of the greatest Real Madrid games in Europe. Six classic games that ensured European glory in the European Cup and UEFA Cup. With some fantastic victories in Europe, they were the FIFA Club of the 20th Century. Those matches showed that nobody does European soccer better than Real Madrid.
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