The 1977 European Cup final was an association football match played between Liverpool of England and Borussia Mönchengladbach of West Germany on 25 May 1977 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy (the venue was decided in Bern by the UEFA Executive Committee on 17 September 1976).

They beat the previous season's runners-up Saint-Étienne by a single goal over two legs, while they defeated FC Zürich 6–1 on aggregate in the semi-final.

A penalty by Phil Neal ensured Liverpool won the match 3–1 to secure their first European Cup.

The first leg was a home tie at Anfield, which Liverpool won 2–0 courtesy of a Phil Neal penalty and a John Toshack goal.

The Reds failed to avoid defeat there when the Turkish side were awarded a penalty midway through the second half, which they converted to run out 1–0 winners.

Three goals early in the first half meant they won the match 3–0 to win the tie 3–1 on aggregate and progress to the quarter-finals.

The German side knew they had to score in the second leg at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges to have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

With eight minutes remaining and the tie heading for extra time, Hans-Jürgen Wittkamp scored to give Borussia a two-goal lead.

[13] Liverpool entered the match having just been crowned English champions again; they won the 1976–77 Football League for a then-record tenth time by a single point over Manchester City and Ipswich Town.

[15] Borussia entered the match as German champions; they had won the 1976–77 Bundesliga by a single point from Schalke and Eintracht Braunschweig.

[16] Borussia were aiming to become the second German team to win the European Cup after Bayern Munich had won the three previous finals.

Heighway cut inside from a wing and passed into space for Terry McDermott who scored the opening goal of the match.

[19] Borussia began to exert more of an influence on the game after Liverpool's goal, however they were unable to equalise before the end of the first half.

A stray Jimmy Case pass was picked up by Allan Simonsen, who advanced towards goal and scored to level the match at 1–1.

Moments later, Liverpool thought they had won a penalty when Kevin Keegan seemed to have been brought down by Berti Vogts; however, the referee waved play on.

[18] Five minutes after their goal, Simonsen crossed the ball from the wing, it was met by Uli Stielike whose shot was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence.