The 1980–81 European Cup was the 16th edition of the European Cup, IIHF's premier European club ice hockey tournament. The season started on October 9, 1980, and finished on August 9, 1981.
The tournament was won by CSKA Moscow, who won the final group.
First round edit
| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
|---|---|---|
Flyers Heerenveen 
|
12–1, 11–2 |  Levski-Spartak Sofia
|
Vojens IK 
|
3–10, 2–11 |  Zaglebie Sosnowiec
|
Dynamo Berlin 
|
13–4, 10–2 |  HC Steaua București
|
EC KAC 
|
2–3, 1–4 |  HC Gherdëina
|
CHH Txuri Urdin 
|
2–2, 2–10 |  ASG Tours
|
Second round edit
| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
|---|---|---|
| Flyers Heerenveen
|
5–6, 5–3 |  EHC Arosa
|
| Zaglebie Sosnowiec
|
6–3, 1–6 | Dynamo Berlin
|
| HC Gherdëina
|
1–1, 3–8 |  HK Olimpija Ljubljana
|
| ASG Tours
|
5–6, 2–9 |  Mannheimer ERC
|
HIFK,
Brynäs IF,
Poldi Kladno,
CSKA Moscow : bye
Third round edit
| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
|---|---|---|
| HK Olimpija Ljubljana
|
2–5, 2–12 | Poldi Kladno
|
| Dynamo Berlin
|
2–3, 3–6 | HIFK
|
| Mannheimer ERC
|
3–6, 4–5 | Brynäs IF
|
| Flyers Heerenveen
|
0–11, 1–9 | CSKA Moscow
|
Final Group edit
| Team #1 | Score | Team #2 |
|---|---|---|
| HIFK
|
5–4 | Poldi Kladno
|
| CSKA Moscow
|
10–1 | Brynäs IF
|
| CSKA Moscow
|
6–0 | HIFK
|
| Poldi Kladno
|
4–2 | Brynäs IF
|
| HIFK
|
3–3 | Brynäs IF
|
| CSKA Moscow
|
12–2 | Poldi Kladno
|
Final group standings edit
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | CSKA Moscow
|
6 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HIFK
|
3 |
| 3 | Poldi Kladno
|
2 |
| 4 | Brynäs IF
|
1 |