[1] It was the first time that five-time winners Real Madrid did not make it to the final, when they were knocked out by eventual first-time finalists Barcelona in the first round.

However, again two teams withdrew from the competition after initial draw: Romanian CCA București was fearing a shameful elimination in front of the Czechoslovakians,[2] while Northern Irish Glenavon and East German Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt were refused visas to the other's country.

UEFA authorised neutral venues but Glenavon withdrew due to the higher cost and lower revenue.

[3] On 9 November 1960, in a first round game against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu Barcelona's Luis Suárez converted penalty to score a 1000th goal in the history of European Cup.

Spain continued to be represented by two clubs, with Real Madrid qualifying as title holders and Barcelona as Spanish champions.

Lierse, Spartak Hradec Králové, Burnley, IFK Helsingfors, Hamburger SV, Panathinaikos, Limerick, Újpesti Dózsa, Fredrikstad and IFK Malmö made their debut, while Rapid Wien, AGF, Reims, Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt, Juventus, Ajax, Legia Warsaw, Benfica, CCA București, Heart of Midlothian and Beşiktaş returned to the competition.

[5] As title holders, Real Madrid received a bye, and the remaining 27 teams were grouped geographically into three pots.

The first team drawn in each pot also received a bye, while the remaining clubs would play the preliminary round in September.