Champions League Final 1981: All you need to know about the epic clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Paris
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Liverpool v Real Madrid
Liverpool and Real Madrid- Two clubs have woven themselves into the European football fabric. Indeed, European football would not exist without Real Madrid and its European triumphs in the 1950s. This will be the third final meeting between these two teams, the most for any side.
Liverpool holds the distinction of being the last side to defeat Real Madrid in a final, which they did in 1981 in Paris. If the European Cup is festooned with red ribbons and Liverpool’s name etched on it once more at the end of the month, the Reds will have become the first side to defeat Real Madrid in multiple finals.
1980/81 Champions League Final: Liverpool v Real Madrid
The European Cup’s 26th season took place in 1980/81. Real Madrid began the competition as a six-time champion, having won the cup a record five times in the first five editions. Liverpool entered the contest as two-time winners of Europe’s most famous trophy.
Real Madrid had advanced to the final following convincing wins against Limerick (7-2), Honvéd (3-0), Spartak Moscow (2-0), and Internazionale Milan (2-1). This was their sixth European Cup Final appearance.
Liverpool, on the other hand, was in its third European Final, having won the previous two in 1977 and 1978. They had placed fifth in the league that season and needed to win the final to qualify for the competition the following year.
The final was pretty well matched and the scores were level till the halftime. The deadlock was broken late in the game, in the 81st minute. Ray Kennedy’s throw-in found Alan Kennedy, a Kennedy to Kennedy link, who entered the Real box and put the ball beyond Agustin.
After conceding, the latter had to make a succession of saves as Liverpool tried for more, but there was no change in the shorelines, and Liverpool was crowned European champions in Paris.
That was the first clash of two great European sides that had previously taken the Champions League by storm, winning a total of 19 championships between them. They face off again in this year’s Champions League final in Paris.
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Ujan Chakraborty
(1240 Articles Published)