The 1956–57 European Cup was the second season of the European Cup, Europe's premier club football tournament. The competition was won for the second time by Real Madrid, who beat Fiorentina 2–0 in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, on 30 May 1957. After the great success of the first tournament, six new nations entered representatives: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, England, Luxembourg, Romania and Turkey. The English Football Association ("FA") had not allowed Chelsea to enter in 1955, and continued its stance on the European Cup as it being a "distraction". However, against the wishes of the FA, Manchester United entered the competition as English champions, becoming the first English team to play in Europe. An additional place was awarded to Real Madrid as the competition's reigning champions, occupying the free berth left by Saar after its reunification with West Germany. Spain, meanwhile, became the first association to provide two representatives to the premier European competition. Bracket Preliminary round The draw for the preliminary round took place in UEFA headquarters in Paris on 29 June 1956. The 21 challengers of Real Madrid were grouped geographically into three pots. The first four teams drawn in each pot would play the preliminary round in September, while the remaining three clubs received byes. The calendar was decided by the involved teams, with all matches to be played by 1 October. |} First leg Second leg Borussia Dortmund 5–5 Spora Luxembourg on aggregate; play-off needed. Slovan UNV Bratislava won 4–2 on aggregate. Manchester United won 12–0 on aggregate. Athletic Bilbao won 5–3 on aggregate. Nice won 6–2 on aggregate. Dinamo București won 4–3 on aggregate. Play-off First round |} 1 Second leg played at Heysel Stadium, Brussels First leg Second leg Red Star Belgrade won 6–3 on aggregate Nice 3–3 Rangers on aggregate; play-off needed. Real Madrid 5–5 Rapid Wien on aggregate; play-off needed. Manchester United won 3–2 on aggregate Fiorentina won 2–1 on aggregate Grasshopper won 2–1 on aggregate Athletic Bilbao won 6–5 on aggregate CDNA Sofia won 10–4 on aggregate Play-off Quarter-finals |} First leg Second leg Manchester United won 6–5 on aggregate Red Star Belgrade won 4–3 on aggregate Fiorentina won 5–3 on aggregate Real Madrid won 6–2 on aggregate Semi-finals |} First leg Second leg Fiorentina won 1–0 on aggregate Real Madrid won 5–3 on aggregate Final Top scorers The top scorers from the 1956–57 European Cup (including preliminary round)