ajax had little success in european competition prior to their meeting with liverpool. they had qualified for the european cup winners' cup twice during the 1960–61 and 1961–62 seasons, but did not progress past the first round either time. liverpool had only participated in european competition during the previous two season, but they had more success than ajax. their first season of competition in 1964–65 they reached the semi-finals of the european cup, losing to eventual winners internazionale. the following season they reached the final of the european cup winners' cup, however, they lost 2–1 against german team borussia dortmund.