ajax were competing in the european cup for the third time, they had qualified as winners of the 1965–66 eredivisie. they were drawn against turkish team beşiktaş in the first round, who they beat 4–1 over two-legs. this was liverpool's second appearance in the european cup: they had reached the semi-finals during the 1964–65 season, losing to eventual winners internazionale. their opponents in the first round were petrolul ploiești of romania, whom they beat 2–0 in a play-off match after the two-leg tie resulted in a 3–3 scoreline.