Reims succumb to Madrid for a second time

Real Madrid CF increased their stranglehold on the European Champion Clubs' Cup to four years out of four with a victory against the side they also beat in their first final, Stade de Reims.

On that occasion Madrid scraped home 4-3, but much had changed since then. Raymond Kopa, who was on the losing side to Madrid in Paris, changed allegiances soon after and was victorious for the third time in Stuttgart.

Reims were not the force they were in 1956 and Madrid went ahead in the second minute when a long pass found Enrique Mateos on the left wing, the striker cutting inside Robert Lamartine and poking the ball in off the far post.

The goal was an untimely blow for the French outfit, who struggled to come out of their bewilderment at conceding so early in the game.

Yet Madrid had to play for several minutes with just ten men when Kopa was forced to leave the field injured following a late challenge from Jean Vincent on the quarter-hour mark.

Madrid could easily have extended their lead when Enrique Mateos was brought down in the Reims box soon after. Deciding to take the spot kick himself, the striker fluffed his lines and the score stayed at 1-0 as the teams went in at half-time.

The Spanish side took full control of the game at the start of the second half, again rendering their opponents groggy with a quick-fire goal. Goalkeeper Dominique Colonna was perhaps unsighted and late to scramble across his goal as Alfredo Di Stéfano smashed home a glorious winner inside the post from the edge of the box.

The goal signalled a period of dominance from Madrid, who were treated to a standing ovation on the final whistle.