Rangers were required to play a preliminary round in the competition where they beat Ferencváros from Hungary 5-4 on aggregate. They were then drawn against Borussia Mönchengladbach from Germany who they then defeated 11-0 on aggregate. In the semi-final Rangers were then required to play English team Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rangers won the tie 3-1 on aggregate to reach their first ever European final.[3]
Fiorentina went straight into the quarter-finals where they played FC Luzern from Switzerland. They subsequently defeated them and Dinamo Zagreb to reach the final.
The 1961 final was the only time that it had been played over two legs until the competition was merged with theUEFA Cup in 1999.[3]
Fiorentina, who were managed by HungarianNándor Hidegkuti, were the recentCoppa Italia winners and had reached the final of theEuropean Cup four years earlier. Their team included many Italian internationals including goalkeeperEnrico Albertosi and Swedish star playerKurt Hamrin.[3]
Rangers were managed byScot Symon and had reached the semi-final of the European Cup the previous year. Since the start of the 1960-61 season, the all-Scottish Rangers team also includedJim Baxter who would go on to become a legendary figure of the club. Rangers top scorerJimmy Millar missed the first leg through injury but featured in the return match.[3]
Fiorentina
12',88'
