FOOTBALL
A new top table in Europe
Modern format in Champions League brings smaller clubs back into the game
21 November 2024 - 05:00
Once upon a time, smaller European clubs in smaller European cities not only had a chance to win what was then the European Cup, but actually won the thing. The list is surprisingly long.
Nottingham Forest won the cup twice (in 1978/1979 and 1979/1980) and Hamburg SV — with Kevin Keegan in their midst — won it in 1982/1983. Other winners during the period, you might be surprised to be reminded of, were Steaua Bucharest (1985/1986), Porto (1986/1987) and Birmingham’s Aston Villa, hardly anyone’s idea of a swaggering Euro superclub...
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