S.L. Benfica in European football Benfica fell in the second round against Scottish team and eventual finalists Celtic in a coin toss decision. After a mildly successful period in the 1960s, where they stood among the top contenders, Southern European teams started to lose influence in the European stage during the 1970s, as Dutch and German teams appeared stronger. In the 1971–72 European Cup, Benfica lost in the semi-finals to a Johan Cruyff-led Ajax on their way to a second consecutive win. Benfica reached the quarter-finals of the 1974–75 European Cup Winners' Cup, before being eliminated by another Dutch team, PSV Eindhoven. Over the course
AC Sparta Prague in European football AC Sparta Prague in European football AC Sparta Prague is an association football club from Prague, Czech Republic. The team has participated in 38 seasons of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) club competitions, including 24 seasons in the Champions League and its predecessors, 14 seasons in the UEFA Cup and Europa League and six seasons in the Cup Winners' Cup. It has played 238 UEFA games, resulting in 95 wins, 55 draws and 88 defeats. The club's first appearance was in the 1964–65 European Cup Winners' Cup. The club's best performance is reaching the semi-finals of the Cup Winners'