European Cup Archives - The Cult of Calcio

On April 2, 1989, Arrigo Sacchi's Milan put together their most impressive display as they annihilated Real Madrid in the European Cup

Today in Serie A – April 19, 1989: Milan Thrashed Real Madrid in the European Cup

April 19, 2025 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football, On This Day, Real Madrid, Serie A

It was not simply a football game gone bad for Real Madrid. When Los Merengues, coached by Leo Beenhakker, left the San Siro on that night of April 19, 1989, football had probably changed forever. Arrigo Sacchi's Milan had just absolutely annihilated them, winning 5-0 and advancing to the European Cup Final 6-1 on aggregate.

Fiorentina of Florence is the first club from Italy and Serie A to not only win a title in Europe but also play in three different European finals

European Football Stories: The Early Exploits of Fiorentina in Europe

June 5, 2023 Bikash Mohapatra AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Calciomercato, Catania, Champions League, Coppa Italia, Europa League, European Cups, European Football Stories, Fenerbahce, Fiorentina, Inter, Inter Milan, International Football, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Spanish Football, Stuttgart, Torino, Udinese, UEFA Cup, West Germany

When it comes to Italian football, Fiorentina represent a very unique and interesting case study. The Viola are the first club from Italy and Serie A to not only win a title in Europe but also play in three different European finals, as they prevailed in the Cup Winners' Cup maiden edition.

Losing the semi-final on a coin toss marked a forgettable end to an otherwise memorable European competition debut for Roma

European Football Stories: How Roma’s Fate Was Decided by a Coin

May 30, 2023 Bikash Mohapatra AC Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Bundesliga, Cagliari, Calcio Stories, Champions League, Conference League, Coppa Italia, Europa League, European Conference League, European Football Stories, FIGC, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, La Liga, Lazio, Mourinho, Napoli, Olimpico Roma, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Serie B, Torino, Totti, UEFA Cup

The coin that could have ended Roma's maiden campaign in the Cup Winners Cup early (against PSV), opted to give the Romanisti initial hope before ensuring eventual disappointment in the Semi Finals against Gornik Zabrze, one that would take a long time to recover from.

Serie A clubs had ensured an Italian three-peat in European competition and the 1989/90 hat-trick marked the zenith of Italian club football

European Football Stories: The Serie A Unprecedented Three-Peat

April 24, 2023 Bikash Mohapatra AC Milan, Benfica, Champions League, Conference League, Europa League, European Conference League, European Cups, European Football Stories, Inter, Inter Milan, International Football, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, La Liga, Maradona, Mourinho, Napoli, Olimpico Roma, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Spain, Spanish Football, UEFA Cup

With the addition of the UECL last season, clubs in the various leagues across Europe once again have three continental competitions to look forward to. The possibility of three clubs from the same league/country making a clean sweep has once again arisen. It remains to be seen if Serie A' s unique three-peat of 1990 will witness a repeat in the coming years.

Throwback Thursday: Roma’s Worst Nightmare at Old Trafford

April 29, 2021 Matteo Carnevale Champions League, European Cups, Manchester United, Roma, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

In the Spring of 2007, the yellow-and-red side of the Italian capital was breathing a refreshing Champions League air as Roma prepared to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the second leg of a UCL Quarter Final. But things did not quite go as planned for Roma, whose trip to Manchester ended up in a shocking 1-7 hammering.

Throwback Thursday: Kakà Silences Old Trafford with Four Touches

March 11, 2021 Akhil Fisher AC Milan, Champions League, European Cups, Manchester United, Serie A, Throwback Thursday One comment

If there was ever a match to truly embody the spirit of the Champions League, Milan’s 1st leg Semi Final visit to the Theater of Dreams on April 24, 2007 fits the bill like few other matches. That was the night when Ricardo Kakà shocked Old Trafford with a masterpiece goal despite the Rossoneri losing 2-3 to Manchester United.

During a European Cup match with Red Star, with Milan down 0-1 and playing with one man less, a thick fog fell forced the referee to halt the game.

Throwback Thursday: When the “Fog of Belgrade” Saved Milan

February 18, 2021 Matteo Carnevale AC Milan, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

In the middle of an epic European Cup Round of 16 match-up against Red Star Belgrade, with Milan down 0-1 and playing with one man less, a thick fog fell on the then Yugoslavian capital and forced the referee to halt the match. Some say that, if the fog had not saved the Rossoneri on that night, the legend of Arrigo Sacchi's Milan would have never been born.

Joaquin Peiró and That Famous Goal To Liverpool…

March 18, 2020 The Cult of Calcio Staff European Cups, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A

Joaquin Peiró passed away today at 84. He was a striker for the Grande Inter, an invincible lineup that won everything possible between 1962 and 1966 – Three Scudetto, two European Cups and one Intercontinental Cup. The goal Peiró scored to Liverpool in a European Cup Semi-Final invariably grabs one of the top spots in any Nerazzurro’s hall of fame.

Tag: European Cup