1980 UEFA European Under-21 Championship allocation of teams into qualifying groups was based on that of UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying with several changes, reflecting the absence of some nations: "See 1980 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads" 1980 UEFA European Under-21 Championship The 1980 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which spanned two years (1978–80) had 25 entrants. Cyprus and the Netherlands competed in the competition for the first time. 1978 entrants Austria did not enter. Due to 'irregularities', Turkey's first two matches were awarded (3-0) to their opponents. USSR U-21s won the competition. The 25 national teams were divided into eight groups (seven groups of 3 +
1980–81 European Cup 1980–81 European Cup The 1980–81 European Cup was the 26th season of the European Cup football club tournament, and was won for a third time by Liverpool, who beat six-time champions Real Madrid in the final. In the 11 seasons up to and including this one, there were only four winners of the European Cup (Ajax, Bayern Munich, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool), but there were eleven different runners-up. This record would have continued into the next year as well, but Bayern lost to first-time finalists Aston Villa. Nottingham Forest, the defending champions, were eliminated by CSKA Sofia in the first