1962/63: Altafini decisive for Milan

Milan 2-1 Benfica
(Altafini 58 69; Eusébio 19)
Wembley, London

Gianni Rivera, Cesare Maldini, Giovanni Trapattoni ... just three of the reasons why Milan AC were Italy's first winners of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1962/63. Another, of course, was the goals of Brazil's José Altafini. He hit 14 of them in the competition – including eight against US Luxembourg in the opening round – as Nereo Rocco's men brushed aside Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Dundee en route to the final.

Dundee had become the second Scottish team to reach the last four after Hibernian in 1956, but a 1-0 triumph at Dens Park was no consolation for the 5-1 hammering they took at San Siro in the semi-final first leg. Benfica, bidding for a third straight win in the competition, had a much rougher ride to Wembley. After a Eusébio hat-trick had seen off IFK Norrköping, the holders narrowly overcame Dukla Praha, and then Feyenoord 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final.

That they made it, however, left the business of giant slaying to Anderlecht. The Belgian side's first European scalp was a mighty one: that of Real Madrid, whom they beat 1-0 in Brussels after a 3-3 draw in Spain in the Preliminary Round. The final itself brought together two Goliaths in centre forwards Altafini and Eusébio. The latter opened the scoring in the first half; the former responded in the second, twice running on to passes from playmaker Rivera to give Milan a 2-1 victory.