# 1987–88 European Cup
The 1987–88 European Cup was the 33rd season of the [European Champion Clubs' Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-champion-clubs-cup), UEFA's tournament for the league champions of Europe, and it was won by [PSV Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/psv-eindhoven) of the Netherlands, who beat SL Benfica 0-0 after extra time and took the final 6-5 on penalties at the Neckarstadion in [Stuttgart](https://www.edgepedia.org/stuttgart) on 25 May 1988.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) It was PSV's first European Cup, and it made them the third Eredivisie club to lift the trophy after Feyenoord and Ajax.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000--1987-88-psv-prosper-from-oranje-boom/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season | 33rd edition of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, contested by national league champions |
| Winner | PSV Eindhoven, first title, beating SL Benfica 6-5 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in Stuttgart[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) |
| Final date and venue | 25 May 1988, Neckarstadion, Stuttgart[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) |
| Winning coach | Guus Hiddink, whose side also won the Dutch league and cup that season[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) |
| Matches and goals | 120 matches, 140 goals[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/) |
| Joint top scorers | Míchel (Real Madrid), René van der Gijp (Xamax), and Petar Novak (Sparta Praha), 4 goals each[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/) |
| Most appearances | Jan Heintze, Søren Lerby, and Wim Kieft, 9 matches each[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/) |
## PSV's route to the title
PSV's campaign was built on defense and penalty-taking rather than attacking play. They won only three of their nine games in the competition, against Galatasaray and Rapid Wien, and none after the second round.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) In the first round they beat Galatasaray 3-0 at home and lost 2-0 in Istanbul, then eliminated Rapid Wien 3-2 on aggregate.[3](https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788det.html)
**Away goals decided the knockout rounds.** PSV drew 1-1 at [Girondins](https://www.edgepedia.org/girondins) de Bordeaux in the quarter-finals and 0-0 at home, and drew 1-1 at Real Madrid in the semi-finals and 0-0 in [Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/eindhoven), going through on away goals both times.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) The semi-final paired them with the Real Madrid side of "La Quinta del Buitre", which had eliminated [SSC Napoli](https://www.edgepedia.org/ssc-napoli), FC Porto, and FC Bayern München earlier in the season, knocking out Bayern 4-3 on aggregate after losing the first leg 3-2.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) • [3](https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788det.html)
The squad combined Dutch internationals with experienced signings: goalkeeper Hans van [Breukelen](https://www.edgepedia.org/breukelen), defender [Ronald Koeman](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronald-koeman), midfielders Søren Lerby and Gerald Vanenburg, and forward Wim Kieft.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) Several of these players went on to win [UEFA Euro 1988](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-euro-1988) with the Netherlands in West Germany that summer, the peak of the same "Oranje boom" that carried PSV to the European Cup.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/)
## Benfica's path and the final
Benfica, chasing a third European Cup, outran KS Partizani, AGF Århus, RSC Anderlecht, and FC Steaua București, beating Steaua 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) Their first-round tie against Partizani Tirana ended early on the field: after a 4-0 first-leg win in Lisbon, Partizani were banned by UEFA following the return leg, in which they received four red cards.[3](https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788det.html)
The final on 25 May 1988 produced no goals in 120 minutes. In the shoot-out, Hans van Breukelen saved from Benfica's right back António Veloso, and PSV won 6-5.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) • [4](https://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/) The shoot-out went to sudden death before the match was decided.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/) It was the third European Cup final to be decided on penalties, after Liverpool against Roma in 1984 and Steaua București against Barcelona in 1986.[5](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0e98c715bb79-dea77f56e2bd-1000--final-records-and-statistics/) For Benfica, the defeat was their fourth consecutive loss in a European final.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/)
## The treble and the season in numbers
PSV had already won the Dutch league and the Dutch cup under [Guus Hiddink](https://www.edgepedia.org/guus-hiddink), so the European Cup completed a treble of domestic double plus European Champion Clubs' Cup, a combination achieved before them only by Celtic and Ajax.[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/)
Across the season's 120 matches, 140 goals were scored.[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/) Three players shared the top-scorer list with four goals each: Míchel of Real Madrid, René van der Gijp of Xamax Neuchâtel, and Petar Novak of Sparta Praha.[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/) • [3](https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788det.html) Van der Gijp scored all four of his goals in a single first-round match, a 5-0 win over Kuusysi Lahti.[3](https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788det.html) The most-used players, with nine appearances each, were Jan Heintze, Søren Lerby, and Wim Kieft.[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/)
## References
1. [1987/88: PSV prosper from Oranje boom, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000/)
2. [Season 1987/88, UEFA Champions League history, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/)
3. [European Champions' Cup 1987-88 - Details, RSSSF](https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788det.html)
4. [Temporada 1987/88, UEFA Champions League history, UEFA.com](https://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1987/)
5. [Champions League final records and statistics, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0e98c715bb79-dea77f56e2bd-1000--final-records-and-statistics/)
6. [1987/88: PSV prosper from Oranje boom – UEFA Champions League 1987/88, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cda61cd72d9-e1f121defd12-1000--1987-88-psv-prosper-from-oranje-boom/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › UEFA competitions › UEFA club competitions › European Cup and UEFA Champions League*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license