1987-88 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Final vs Barcelona

Lore & Background

In only their second season of European football, Bayer Leverkusen earned their first major title in professional competition. This was the second UEFA Cup final decided on penalty kicks, four years after the first one. The 1987–88 season was the third in which all English clubs were banned from European competitions.

Reader's Guide

The competition featured 64 teams from 31 UEFA member associations, all entering from the first round over six knockout rounds. Associations 1–3 each had four teams qualify; associations 4–8 each had three; associations 9–21 each had two; associations 22–32 each had one. Due to the ban on English clubs, their three berths were allocated to associations 9–11, each gaining a third berth. The schedule used Wednesdays as the primary match day, with some matches on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays.

Did You Know?

• Bayer Leverkusen defeated Español 3–2 on penalties in the final after a 3–3 aggregate score.
• The first leg of the final was played at Estadi de Sarriá in Barcelona, not Camp Nou.