Linfield F.C. - European Record

European Record

As Northern Ireland's most dominant club side, Linfield have been regular campaigners in European football. Their most notable achievement was reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup in the 1966–1967 season. After beating FC Aris Bonnevoie of Luxembourg and Vålerenga of Norway they faced CSKA Sofia in the last eight. This resulted in a 2–2 draw at home and 1–0 defeat away.

In the 1984–85 season, after overcoming Shamrock Rovers on away goals (the first and so far only series of meetings between the two Irish superpowers outside all-Ireland tournaments), Linfield faced eventual semi-finalists Panathinaikos in the second round. After a 2–1 defeat away, Linfield drew 3-3 at Windsor Park on the return leg.

In the 1987–88 campaign Linfield's home game against Lillestrom was marred by missile throwing, resulting in UEFA sanctions which meant that the club had to play their next two home games in European competitions at Welsh club Wrexham in the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons.

The 1993–94 UEFA Champions League saw Linfield drawn with Dynamo Tbilisi of Georgia. After losing 3–2 on aggregate, they were reinstated when their opponents were expelled from the competition for alleged match fixing and paying the officials. Linfield faced Copenhagen in the first round proper. They won the first leg 3–0, and lost the second leg 4–0 after extra time. This proved costly, as victory would have meant a financially lucrative tie against eventual champions Milan in the next round.