1956–57 European Cup#First round

A total of 22 teams participated in the competition.

AGF, Anderlecht, Rapid Wien and Real Madrid returned to the competition, after participating in the inaugural edition.

Galatasaray was the only team, other than the title holder, who didn't enter as a national association champion, as Süper Lig was not founded until 1959.{{relevance?|date=April 2024}}

{{clear}}

{{Location map+ |Europe |AlternativeMap=Europe blank laea location map before 1990.svg |width=400 |float=right |caption=Location of teams in the 1956–57 European Cup |places=

{{location map~ |Europe |lat=50.833333 |long= 4.333333 |label=Anderlecht|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=44.8162 |long=20.4816 |label=Red Star|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=47.471944 |long=19.050278 |label=Honvéd}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=52.23 |long=21.010833 |label=CWKS Warsaw}}

{{location map~ |Europe |lat=56.131944 |long=10.196389 |label=AGF|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=48.197778 |long=16.265278 |label=Rapid|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=40.453053 |long=-3.688356 |label=Real Madrid|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=48.144722 |long=17.112778 |label=Slovan|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=43.723328 |long= 7.458756 |label=Nice|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=41.161758 |long=-8.583933 |label=Porto|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=43.263472 |long=-2.948150 |label=Athletic|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=41.06545 |long=28.998967 |label=Galatasaray|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=51.512139 |long= 7.463394 |label=Dortmund|position=top}}

{{location map~ |Europe |lat=53.483139 |long=-2.2003 |label=Man. United}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=44.4325 |long=26.103889 |label=Dinamo|position=right}}

{{location map~ |Europe |lat=49.3642 |long= 6.0748 |label=Spora|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=55.858 |long=-4.259 |label=Rangers|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=43.783333 |long=11.25 |label=Fiorentina}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=58.60 |long=16.20 |label=IFK Norrköping|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=47.366667 |long= 8.55 |label=Grasshopper|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=42.7 |long=23.333333 |label=CDNA Sofia}}

{{Location map~ |Europe |lat=50.857088 |long= 6.005873 |label=Rapid JC}}

}}

The draw for the preliminary round took place in UEFA headquarters in Paris on 29 June 1956.Corriere dello Sport, June 30, 1956. The 21 challengers of Real Madrid were grouped geographically into three pots. The first four teams drawn in each pot would play the preliminary round in September, while the remaining three clubs received byes.

The calendar was decided by the involved teams, with all matches to be played by 1 October.

{{TwoLeg start|extra=Play-off}}

{{TwoLegResult|Borussia Dortmund|FRG|5–5|Spora Luxembourg|LUX|4–3|1–2|7–0}}

{{TwoLegResult|Dinamo București|ROU|var1=1952|4–3|Galatasaray|TUR|3–1|1–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Slovan UNV Bratislava|TCH|4–2|CWKS Warsaw|POL|var2=1928|4–0|0–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Anderlecht|BEL|0–12|Manchester United|ENG|0–2|0–10}}

{{TwoLegResult|AGF|DEN|2–6|Nice|FRA|var2=1830|1–1|1–5}}

{{TwoLegResult|Porto|POR|3–5|Athletic Bilbao|ESP|var2=1945|1–2|2–3}}

|}

{{football box

| id = Borussia v Spora

| date = 1 August 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Borussia Dortmund {{fbaicon|FRG}}

| score = 4–3

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61179--dortmund-vs-spora/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|LUX}} Spora Luxembourg

| goals1 = Bracht {{goal|31}}
Niepieklo {{goal|54}}
Preissler {{goal|61||73}}

| goals2 = Boreux {{goal|25||34||88}}

| stadium = Stadion Rote Erde, Dortmund

| attendance = 20,000

| referee = Johan Heinrich Martens (Netherlands)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Dinamo v Galatasaray

| date = 26 August 1956

| time = 16:00 CET

| team1 = Dinamo București {{fbaicon|ROU|1952}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61181--dinamo-bucuresti-vs-galatasaray/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|TUR}} Galatasaray

| goals1 = Voica {{goal|10||67}}
Ene {{goal|84}}

| goals2 = Okay {{goal|77}}

| stadium = Stadionul August 23, Bucharest

| attendance = 85,000

| referee = Francesco Liverani (Italy)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Anderlecht v United

| date = 12 September 1956

| time = 19:30 CET

| team1 = Anderlecht {{fbaicon|BEL}}

| score = 0–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61185--anderlecht-vs-man-united/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Viollet {{goal|25}}
Taylor {{goal|75}}

| stadium = Stade Émile Versé, Anderlecht, Brussels

| attendance = 33,000

| referee = Leo Horn (Netherlands)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Slovan v CWKS

| date = 12 September 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Slovan UNV Bratislava {{fbaicon|TCH}}

| score = 4–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61183--slovan-bratislava-vs-legia/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|POL|1928}} CWKS Warsaw

| goals1 = Pažický {{goal|23||68}}
Kováč {{goal|30|pen.}}
Moravčík {{goal|40}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Tehelné pole, Bratislava

| attendance = 25,000

| referee = Friedrich Mayer (Austria)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = AGF v Nice

| date = 19 September 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = AGF {{fbaicon|DEN}}

| score = 1–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61187--agf-vs-nice/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}} Nice

| goals1 = Jensen {{goal|16}}

| goals2 = Foix {{goal|61}}

| stadium = Idrætsparken, Copenhagen

| attendance = 12,900

| referee = Arthur Edward Ellis (England)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Porto v Athletic

| date = 20 September 1956

| time = 17:30 CET

| team1 = Porto {{fbaicon|POR}}

| score = 1–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61189--porto-vs-athletic-club/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Athletic Bilbao

| goals1 = Matos {{goal|54}}

| goals2 = Gaínza {{goal|8}}
Canito {{goal|75}}

| stadium = Estádio das Antas, Porto

| attendance = 35,000

| referee = Mario Maurelli (Italy)

}}

{{football box

| id = Spora v Borussia

| date = 6 September 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Spora Luxembourg {{fbaicon|LUX}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61180--spora-vs-dortmund/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|FRG}} Borussia Dortmund

| goals1 = Fiedler {{goal|22}}
Letsch {{goal|39}}

| goals2 = Preissler {{goal|28}}

| stadium = Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City

| attendance = 7,000

| referee = Karl Lescart (Belgium)

}}

Borussia Dortmund 5–5 Spora Luxembourg on aggregate; play-off needed.

----

{{football box

| id = CWKS v Slovan

| date = 19 September 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = CWKS Warsaw {{fbaicon|POL|1928}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61184--legia-vs-slovan-bratislava/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|TCH}} Slovan UNV Bratislava

| goals1 = Kowal {{goal|52}}
Brychczy {{goal|63}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw

| attendance = 40,000

| referee = Alfred Grill (Austria)

}}

Slovan UNV Bratislava won 4–2 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Athletic v Porto

| date = 26 September 1956

| time = 17:00 CET

| team1 = Athletic Bilbao {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 3–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61190--athletic-club-vs-porto/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|POR}} Porto

| goals1 = Artetxe {{goal|14||73|pen.|82}}

| goals2 = Hernâni {{goal|4}}
Jaburú {{goal|20}}

| stadium = San Mamés, Bilbao

| attendance = 34,705

| referee = Mario Maurelli (Italy)

}}

Athletic Bilbao won 5–3 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = United v Anderlecht

| date = 26 September 1956

| time = 20:30 CET

| team1 = Manchester United {{fbaicon|ENG}}

| score = 10–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61186--man-united-vs-anderlecht/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|BEL}} Anderlecht

| goals1 = Taylor {{goal|8||20||52}}
Viollet {{goal|25||38||44||65}}
Whelan {{goal|61||82}}
Berry {{goal|77}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Maine Road, Manchester

| attendance = 43,635

| referee = Sandy Griffiths (Wales)

}}

Manchester United won 12–0 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Nice v AGF

| date = 27 September 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Nice {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}}

| score = 5–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61188--nice-vs-agf/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|DEN}} AGF

| goals1 = Foix {{goal|2}}
Milazzo {{goal|27||74}}
Faivre {{goal|45||60}}

| goals2 = Jensen {{goal|77}}

| stadium = Stade du Ray, Nice

| attendance = 8,144

| referee = John Husband (England)

}}

Nice won 6–2 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Galatasaray v Dinamo

| date = 30 September 1956

| time = 14:15 CET

| team1 = Galatasaray {{fbaicon|TUR}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61182--galatasaray-vs-dinamo-bucuresti/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ROU|1952}} Dinamo București

| goals1 = Aytaç {{goal|42}}
Oktay {{goal|89}}

| goals2 = Suru {{goal|31}}

| stadium = Mithatpaşa Stadyumu, Istanbul

| attendance = 23,764

| referee = Gustav Jiranek (Austria)

}}

Dinamo București won 4–3 on aggregate.

{{football box

| id = Borussia v Spora play-off

| date = 16 September 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Borussia Dortmund {{fbaicon|FRG}}

| score = 7–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63488--dortmund-vs-spora/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|LUX}} Spora Luxembourg

| goals1 = Preissler {{goal|24||36}}
Simmer {{goal|29}}
Kelbassa {{goal|40||49||63}}
Peters {{goal|57}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stadion Rote Erde, Dortmund

| attendance = 15,000

| referee = Fritz Buchmüller (Switzerland)

}}

Borussia Dortmund won play-off 7–0.

{{16TeamBracket|legs=2/2/2/1|aggregate=y|byes=1|seeds=n|nowrap=y

| RD1=First round

| RD2=Quarter-finals

| RD3=Semi-finals

| RD4=Final

| RD1-team01={{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| RD1-score01-1=4

| RD1-score01-2=1

| RD1-score01-agg=5 (2)

| RD1-team02={{fbaicon|AUT}} Rapid Wien

| RD1-score02-1=2

| RD1-score02-2=3

| RD1-score02-agg=5 (0)

| RD1-team03={{fbaicon|SCO}} Rangers

| RD1-score03-1=2

| RD1-score03-2=1

| RD1-score03-agg=3 (1)

| RD1-team04={{fbaicon|FRA|1830}} Nice

| RD1-score04-1=1

| RD1-score04-2=2

| RD1-score04-agg=3 (3)

| RD1-team05={{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Athletic Bilbao

| RD1-score05-1=3

| RD1-score05-2=3

| RD1-score05-agg=6

| RD1-team06={{fbaicon|HUN|1956}} Budapest Honvéd

| RD1-score06-1=2

| RD1-score06-2=3

| RD1-score06-agg=5

| RD1-team07={{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| RD1-score07-1=3

| RD1-score07-2=0

| RD1-score07-agg=3

| RD1-team08={{fbaicon|FRG}} Borussia Dortmund

| RD1-score08-1=2

| RD1-score08-2=0

| RD1-score08-agg=2

| RD1-team09={{fbaicon|NED}} Rapid JC

| RD1-score09-1=3

| RD1-score09-2=0

| RD1-score09-agg=3

| RD1-team10={{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade

| RD1-score10-1=4

| RD1-score10-2=2

| RD1-score10-agg=6

| RD1-team11={{fbaicon|BUL|1948}} CDNA Sofia

| RD1-score11-1=8

| RD1-score11-2=2

| RD1-score11-agg=10

| RD1-team12={{fbaicon|ROU|1952}} Dinamo București

| RD1-score12-1=1

| RD1-score12-2=3

| RD1-score12-agg=4

| RD1-team13={{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| RD1-score13-1=1

| RD1-score13-2=1

| RD1-score13-agg=2

| RD1-team14={{fbaicon|SWE}} IFK Norrköping

| RD1-score14-1=1

| RD1-score14-2=0

| RD1-score14-agg=1

| RD1-team15={{fbaicon|TCH}} Slovan UNV Bratislava

| RD1-score15-1=1

| RD1-score15-2=0

| RD1-score15-agg=1

| RD1-team16={{fbaicon|SUI}} Grasshopper

| RD1-score16-1=0

| RD1-score16-2=2

| RD1-score16-agg=2

| RD2-team01={{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| RD2-score01-1=3

| RD2-score01-2=3

| RD2-score01-agg=6

| RD2-team02={{fbaicon|FRA|1830}} Nice

| RD2-score02-1=0

| RD2-score02-2=2

| RD2-score02-agg=2

| RD2-team03={{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Athletic Bilbao

| RD2-score03-1=5

| RD2-score03-2=0

| RD2-score03-agg=5

| RD2-team04={{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| RD2-score04-1=3

| RD2-score04-2=3

| RD2-score04-agg=6

| RD2-team05={{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade

| RD2-score05-1=3

| RD2-score05-2=1

| RD2-score05-agg=4

| RD2-team06={{fbaicon|BUL|1948}} CDNA Sofia

| RD2-score06-1=1

| RD2-score06-2=2

| RD2-score06-agg=3

| RD2-team07={{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| RD2-score07-1=3

| RD2-score07-2=2

| RD2-score07-agg=5

| RD2-team08={{fbaicon|SUI}} Grasshopper

| RD2-score08-1=1

| RD2-score08-2=2

| RD2-score08-agg=3

| RD3-team01={{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| RD3-score01-1=3

| RD3-score01-2=2

| RD3-score01-agg=5

| RD3-team02={{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| RD3-score02-1=1

| RD3-score02-2=2

| RD3-score02-agg=3

| RD3-team03={{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade

| RD3-score03-1=0

| RD3-score03-2=0

| RD3-score03-agg=0

| RD3-team04={{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| RD3-score04-1=1

| RD3-score04-2=0

| RD3-score04-agg=1

| RD4-team01={{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| RD4-score01=2

| RD4-team02={{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| RD4-score02=0

}}

{{TwoLeg start|extra=Play-off}}

{{TwoLegResult|Manchester United|ENG|3–2|Borussia Dortmund|FRG|3–2|0–0}}

{{TwoLegResult|CDNA Sofia|BUL|var1=1948|10–4|Dinamo București|ROM|var2=1952|8–1|2–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Rangers|SCO|3–3|Nice|FRA|var2=1830|2–1|1–2|1–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Slovan UNV Bratislava|TCH|1–2|Grasshopper|SUI|1–0|0–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Real Madrid|ESP|var1=1945|5–5|Rapid Wien|AUT|4–2|1–3|2–0}}

{{TwoLegResult|Rapid JC|NED|3–6|Red Star Belgrade|YUG|3–4|0–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Fiorentina|ITA|2–1|IFK Norrköping|SWE|1–1|1–0}}

{{TwoLegResult|Athletic Bilbao|ESP|var1=1945|6–5|Budapest Honvéd|HUN|var2=1956|3–2|3–3}}

|}

{{football box

| id = CDNA v Dinamo

| date = 17 October 1956

| time = 19:00 CET

| team1 = CDNA Sofia {{fbaicon|BUL|1948}}

| score = 8–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68394--cska-sofia-vs-dinamo-bucuresti/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ROU|1952}} Dinamo București

| goals1 = Kolev {{goal|12||56||63}}
Milanov {{goal|20||65}}
Panayotov {{goal|27||76}}
Dimitrov {{goal|80}}

| goals2 = Băcuț {{goal|81|pen.}}

| stadium = Stadion Narodna Armia, Sofia

| attendance = 50,000

| referee = Vasa Stefanović (Yugoslavia)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = United v Borussia

| date = 17 October 1956

| time = 21:00 CET

| team1 = Manchester United {{fbaicon|ENG}}

| score = 3–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68392--man-united-vs-dortmund/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|FRG}} Borussia Dortmund

| goals1 = Viollet {{goal|10||25}}
Pegg {{goal|35}}

| goals2 = Kapitulski {{goal|68}}
Preissler {{goal|75}}

| stadium = Maine Road, Manchester

| attendance = 75,568

| referee = Leo Horn (Netherlands)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Slovan v Grasshopper

| date = 24 October 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Slovan UNV Bratislava {{fbaicon|TCH}}

| score = 1–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68398--slovan-bratislava-vs-grasshoppers/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|SUI}} Grasshopper

| goals1 = Moravčík {{goal|20}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Tehelné pole, Bratislava

| attendance = 30,000

| referee = Fritz Seipelt (Austria)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Rangers v Nice

| date = 24 October 1956

| time = 21:00 CET

| team1 = Rangers {{fbaicon|SCO}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68396--rangers-vs-nice/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}} Nice

| goals1 = Murray {{goal|40}}
Simpson {{goal|81}}

| goals2 = Faivre {{goal|23}}

| stadium = Ibrox Park, Glasgow

| attendance = 65,000

| referee = Arthur Edward Ellis (England)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Real v Rapid

| date = 1 November 1956

| time = 16:00 CET

| team1 = Real Madrid {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 4–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68400--real-madrid-vs-rapid-wien/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|AUT}} Rapid Wien

| goals1 = Di Stéfano {{goal|9||21}}
Marsal {{goal|60||63}}

| goals2 = Dienst {{goal|58}}
Giesser {{goal|90}}

| stadium = Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

| attendance = 100,000

| referee = Gottfried Dienst (Switzerland)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Rapid v Red Star

| date = 3 November 1956

| time = 15:00 CET

| team1 = Rapid JC {{fbaicon|NED}}

| score = 3–4

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68402--rapid-vs-crvena-zvezda/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade

| goals1 = Janssen {{goal|8}}
Bisschops {{goal|78}}
Tasić {{goal|81|og.}}

| goals2 = Kostić {{goal|4||75}}
Toplak {{goal|42}}
Rudinski {{goal|82}}

| stadium = Kaalheide, Kerkrade

| attendance = 11,500

| referee = Albert Alsteen (Belgium)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Fiorentina v Norrköping

| date = 21 November 1956

| time = 14:30 CET

| team1 = Fiorentina {{fbaicon|ITA}}

| score = 1–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68404--fiorentina-vs-norrkoping/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|SWE}} IFK Norrköping

| goals1 = Bizzarri {{goal|15}}

| goals2 = Bild {{goal|8}}

| stadium = Comunale, Florence

| attendance = 6,000

| referee = Dean Harzic (France)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Athletic v Honvéd

| date = 22 November 1956

| time = 15:30 CET

| team1 = Athletic Bilbao {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 3–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68406--athletic-club-vs-honved/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|HUN|1956}} Budapest Honvéd

| goals1 = Artetxe {{goal|16}}
Markaida {{goal|27}}
Arieta {{goal|82}}

| goals2 = Budai II {{goal|75}}
Kocsis {{goal|85}}

| stadium = San Mamés, Bilbao

| attendance = 39,184

| referee = John Husband (England)

}}

{{football box

| id = Red Star v Rapid

| date = 8 November 1956

| time = 14:15 CET

| team1 = Red Star Belgrade {{fbaicon|YUG}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68403--crvena-zvezda-vs-rapid/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|NED}} Rapid JC

| goals1 = Toplak {{goal|32}}
Kostić {{goal|84}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stadion JNA, Belgrade

| attendance = 15,000

| referee = Rudolf Roman (Austria)

}}

Red Star Belgrade won 6–3 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Rapid v Real

| date = 14 November 1956

| time = 19:30 CET

| team1 = Rapid Wien {{fbaicon|AUT}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68401--rapid-wien-vs-real-madrid/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| goals1 = Happel {{goal|18||38|pen.|40}}

| goals2 = Di Stéfano {{goal|60}}

| stadium = Praterstadion, Vienna

| attendance = 60,000

| referee = Maurice Guigue (France)

}}

Real Madrid 5–5 Rapid Wien on aggregate; play-off needed.

----

{{football box

| id = Nice v Rangers

| date = 14 November 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Nice {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68397--nice-vs-rangers/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|SCO}} Rangers

| goals1 = Bravo {{goal|61}}
Foix {{goal|64}}

| goals2 = Hubbard {{goal|40|pen.}}

| stadium = Stade du Ray, Nice

| attendance = 8,439

| referee = Riccardo Pieri (Italy)

}}

Nice 3–3 Rangers on aggregate; play-off needed.

----

{{football box

| id = Borussia v United

| date = 21 November 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Borussia Dortmund {{fbaicon|FRG}}

| score = 0–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68393--dortmund-vs-man-united/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stadion Rote Erde, Dortmund

| attendance = 44,570

| referee = Johan Heinrich Martens (Netherlands)

}}

Manchester United won 3–2 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Norrköping v Fiorentina

| date = 28 November 1956

| time = 14:30 CET

| team1 = IFK Norrköping {{fbaicon|SWE}}

| score = 0–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68405--norrkoping-vs-fiorentina/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Virgili {{goal|16}}

| stadium = Stadio Olimpico, Rome

| attendance = 10,200

| referee = Michel Devillers (France)

}}

Fiorentina won 2–1 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Grasshopper v Slovan

| date = 12 December 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Grasshopper {{fbaicon|SUI}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68399--grasshoppers-vs-slovan-bratislava/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|TCH}} Slovan UNV Bratislava

| goals1 = Vukosavljević {{goal|75}}
Duret {{goal|89}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Grünwalder Stadion, Munich{{#tag:ref|It is assumed this match was played in Munich as a result of Swiss protests regarding the outcome of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 which also led to them boycotting the 1956 Olympic Games.[http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Games/All-Past-Olympic-Games/Summer/Melbourne--Stockholm-1956/ Melbourne/Stockholm 1956 (All facts) Olympic.org]|group="nb"}}

| attendance = 12,000

| referee = Fritz Seipelt (Austria)

}}

Grasshopper won 2–1 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Honvéd v Athletic

| date = 20 December 1956

| time = 19:00 CET

| team1 = Budapest Honvéd {{fbaicon|HUN|1956}}

| score = 3–3

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68407--honved-vs-athletic-club/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Athletic Bilbao

| goals1 = Budai II {{goal|6|}}
Kocsis {{goal|78}}
Puskás {{goal|86}}

| goals2 = Merodio {{goal|1||72}}
Arieta {{goal|67}}

| stadium = Heysel Stadium, Brussels{{#tag:ref|Played at Heysel Stadium, Brussels due to Hungarian Revolution of 1956.|group="nb"}}

| attendance = 30,000

| referee = Albert Alsteen (Belgium)

}}

Athletic Bilbao won 6–5 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Dinamo v CDNA

| date = 30 December 1956

| time = 19:00 CET

| team1 = Dinamo București {{fbaicon|ROU|1952}}

| score = 3–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68395--dinamo-bucuresti-vs-cska-sofia/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|BUL|1948}} CDNA Sofia

| goals1 = Nicușor {{goal|58|pen.}}
Lăzar {{goal|67}}
Neagu {{goal|84}}

| goals2 = Stoyanov {{goal|23}}
Yanev {{goal|62}}

| stadium = Stadionul August 23, Bucharest

| attendance = 20,000

| referee = Gustav Jiranek (Austria)

}}

CDNA Sofia won 10–4 on aggregate.

{{football box

| id = Nice v Rangers play-off

| date = 28 November 1956

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Nice {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68408--nice-vs-rangers/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|SCO}} Rangers

| goals1 = Foix {{goal|45}}
Muro {{goal|50}}
Faivre {{goal|75}}

| goals2 = Bonvin {{goal|51|o.g.}}

| stadium = Parc des Princes, Paris

| attendance = 11,908

| referee = Lucien Van Nuffel (Belgium)

}}

Nice won play-off 3–1.

----

{{football box

| id = Real v Rapid play-off

| date = 13 December 1956

| time = 15:30 CET

| team1 = Real Madrid {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/68409--real-madrid-vs-rapid-wien/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|AUT}} Rapid Wien

| goals1 = Joseíto {{goal|1}}
Kopa {{goal|23}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

| attendance = 100,000

| referee = Alfred Bond (England)

}}

Real Madrid won play-off 2–0.

{{TwoLeg start}}

{{TwoLegResult|Athletic Bilbao|ESP|var1=1945|5–6|Manchester United|ENG|5–3|0–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Fiorentina|ITA|5–3|Grasshopper|SUI|3–1|2–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Real Madrid|ESP|var1=1945|6–2|Nice|FRA|var2=1830|3–0|3–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Red Star Belgrade|YUG|4–3|CDNA Sofia|BUL|var2=1948|3–1|1–2}}

|}

{{football box

| id = Athletic v United

| date = 16 January 1957

| time = 15:45 CET

| team1 = Athletic Bilbao {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 5–3

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61207--athletic-club-vs-man-united/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| goals1 = Uribe {{goal|2||28}}
Markaida {{goal|43}}
Merodio {{goal|73}}
Artetxe {{goal|78}}

| goals2 = Taylor {{goal|48}}
Viollet {{goal|54}}
Whelan {{goal|85}}

| stadium = San Mamés, Bilbao

| attendance = 36,737

| referee = Albert Dusch (West Germany)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Fiorentina v Grasshopper

| date = 6 February 1957

| time = 15:00 CET

| team1 = Fiorentina {{fbaicon|ITA}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61209--fiorentina-vs-grasshoppers/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|SUI}} Grasshopper

| goals1 = Segato {{goal|3}}
Taccola {{goal|10||12}}

| goals2 = Ballaman {{goal|31}}

| stadium = Comunale, Florence

| attendance = 10,000

| referee = Fritz Seipelt (Austria)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Real v Nice

| date = 14 February 1957

| time = 16:15 CET

| team1 = Real Madrid {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 3–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61211--real-madrid-vs-nice/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}} Nice

| goals1 = Joseíto {{goal|18}}
Mateos {{goal|49||72}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

| attendance = 110,000

| referee = Gérard Versyp (Belgium)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Red Star v CDNA

| date = 17 February 1957

| time = 14:30 CET

| team1 = Red Star Belgrade {{fbaicon|YUG}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61213--crvena-zvezda-vs-cska-sofia/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|BUL|1948}} CDNA Sofia

| goals1 = Kostić {{goal|6||25}}
Popović {{goal|53}}

| goals2 = Yanev {{goal|88}}

| stadium = Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade

| attendance = 33,000

| referee = Riccardo Pieri (Italy)

}}

{{football box

| id = United v Athletic

| date = 6 February 1957

| time = 21:30 CET

| team1 = Manchester United {{fbaicon|ENG}}

| score = 3–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61208--man-united-vs-athletic-club/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Athletic Bilbao

| goals1 = Viollet {{goal|42}}
Taylor {{goal|70}}
Berry {{goal|85}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Maine Road, Manchester

| attendance = 70,000

| referee = Albert Dusch (West Germany)

}}

Manchester United won 6–5 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = CDNA v Red Star

| date = 24 February 1957

| time = 13:00 CET

| team1 = CDNA Sofia {{fbaicon|BUL|1948}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61214--cska-sofia-vs-crvena-zvezda/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade

| goals1 = Bozhkov {{goal|22|pen.}}
Panayotov {{goal|39}}

| goals2 = Tasić {{goal|29|pen.}}

| stadium = Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia

| attendance = 50,000

| referee = Nikolai Latyshev (Soviet Union)

}}

Red Star Belgrade won 4–3 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Grasshopper v Fiorentina

| date = 27 February 1957

| time = 20:00 CET

| team1 = Grasshopper {{fbaicon|SUI}}

| score = 2–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61210--grasshoppers-vs-fiorentina/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| goals1 = Ballaman {{goal|25}}
Vukosavljević {{goal|85}}

| goals2 = Julinho {{goal|7}}
Montuori {{goal|52}}

| stadium = Stadion Hardturm, Zürich

| attendance = 18,000

| referee = Fritz Seipelt (Austria)

}}

Fiorentina won 5–3 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = Nice v Real

| date = 14 March 1957

| time = 15:00 CET

| team1 = Nice {{fbaicon|FRA|1830}}

| score = 2–3

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61212--nice-vs-real-madrid/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| goals1 = Foix {{goal|15}}
Ferry {{goal|82|pen.}}

| goals2 = Joseíto {{goal|45}}
Di Stéfano {{goal|50||79}}

| stadium = Stade du Ray, Nice

| attendance = 21,724

| referee = John Husband (England)

}}

Real Madrid won 6–2 on aggregate.

{{TwoLeg start}}

{{TwoLegResult|Red Star Belgrade|YUG|0–1|Fiorentina|ITA|0–1|0–0}}

{{TwoLegResult|Real Madrid|ESP|var1=1945|5–3|Manchester United|ENG|3–1|2–2}}

|}

{{football box

| id = Red Star v Fiorentina

| date = 3 April 1957

| time = 15:45 CET

| team1 = Red Star Belgrade {{fbaicon|YUG}}

| score = 0–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61215--crvena-zvezda-vs-fiorentina/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Prini {{goal|88}}

| stadium = Stadion JNA, Belgrade

| attendance = 40,000

| referee = Albert Alsteen (Belgium)

}}

----

{{football box

| id = Real v United

| date = 11 April 1957

| time = 16:30 CET

| team1 = Real Madrid {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61217--real-madrid-vs-man-united/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ENG}} Manchester United

| goals1 = Rial {{goal|61}}
Di Stéfano {{goal|73}}
Mateos {{goal|83}}

| goals2 = Taylor {{goal|82}}

| stadium = Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

| attendance = 120,000

| referee = Leo Horn (Netherlands)

}}

{{football box

| id = Fiorentina v Red Star

| date = 18 April 1957

| time = 16:15 CET

| team1 = Fiorentina {{fbaicon|ITA}}

| score = 0–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61216--fiorentina-vs-crvena-zvezda/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|YUG}} Red Star Belgrade

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Comunale, Florence

| attendance = 70,000

| referee = Klaas Schipper (Netherlands)

}}

Fiorentina won 1–0 on aggregate.

----

{{football box

| id = United v Real

| date = 25 April 1957

| time = 20:15 CET

| team1 = Manchester United {{fbaicon|ENG}}

| score = 2–2

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61218--man-united-vs-real-madrid/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}} Real Madrid

| goals1 = Taylor {{goal|52}}
Charlton {{goal|85}}

| goals2 = Kopa {{goal|25}}
Rial {{goal|33}}

| stadium = Old Trafford, Manchester

| attendance = 65,000

| referee = Marcel Lequesne (France)

}}

Real Madrid won 5–3 on aggregate.

{{main|1957 European Cup final}}

{{football box

| date = 30 May 1957

| time = 17:30 CET

| team1 = Real Madrid {{fbaicon|ESP|1945}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/61219--real-madrid-vs-fiorentina/ Report]

| team2 = {{fbaicon|ITA}} Fiorentina

| goals1 = Di Stéfano {{goal|69|pen.}}
Gento {{goal|75}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

| attendance = 124,000{{UEFA match attendance|61219|Real Madrid vs. Fiorentina|access-date=6 June 2022}}

| referee = Leo Horn (Netherlands)

}}

The top scorers from the 1956–57 European Cup (including preliminary round) were as follows:[https://web.archive.org/web/20131020140729/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/statistics/round=896/players/type=topscorers/index.html 1956/57 European Champion Clubs' Cup - Tournament phase - Goals scored][https://web.archive.org/web/20141110114300/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/statistics/round=895/players/type=topscorers/index.html 1956/57 European Champion Clubs' Cup - Qualifying phase - Goals scored]

{{reflist|group="nb"}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1956/matches/ 1956–57 All matches – season at UEFA website]
• All scorers 1956–57 European Cup (excluding qualifying round) according to [https://web.archive.org/web/20131020140729/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/statistics/round=896/players/type=topscorers/index.html protocols UEFA] + all scorers [https://web.archive.org/web/20141110114300/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/statistics/round=895/players/type=topscorers/index.html qualifying round]
• [https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ecomp.html European Cup results at Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]
• [https://archive.today/20120712102559/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/history/Season=1956/intro.html 1956-57 European Cup] – results and line-ups (archive)

{{UEFA Champions League seasons}}

{{1956–57 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{International club football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1956-57 European Cup}}

Category:UEFA Champions League seasons

European Cup

Cup