We Are The Champions: 1981 Trivia Quiz

Answer: AZ'67

It was the last time in the 20th century that the title did not go to PSV, Ajax or Feyenoord. AZ'67 (as it was called then), lost just once and scored 101 goals in 34 matches. Ajax ended up 12 points behind (but was the only one to beat AZ), Utrecht a surprising third and Feyenoord pipped PSV on goal difference for fourth place.

Answer: Aston Villa

Those were the days. There were 22 clubs in the top flight, and it was still 2 points a win. The clubs mentioned were the best four of the season. Aston Villa scored 60 points (goal difference 72-45), Ipswich Town was runner up with 56 points (goal difference 77-43). Norwich City, Leicester City and Crystal Palace relegated to the second division.

Answer: Bayern Munich

Big surprise, hey? Bayern won the title on the road. At home VFB Stuttgart was the best and Hamburger SV were as good as Bayern. But, on the road the Bavarians were the only one who got more than 20 points.

Answer: Saint-Etienne

There has been a time that Olympique Lyon wasn't the force it is today. It ended up sixth, 16 points behind Saint-Etienne which was a class of its own. Only Nantes got somewhere close, three points behind les verts. Bordeaux and Monaco shared third place with 49 points, Bordeaux having the better goal difference.

Answer: Juventus

Another big name to become champion of its country. Juventus had a record of 17 wins, 10 draws and three losses. It gave them 44 points, two more than runner-up AS Roma. You wonder where AC Milan went? I don't know, they did not play in the Serie A that season! Catanzaro ended up a proud eighth.

Answer: Real Sociedad

Like in Holland, no big name at the top of the table. But different than in Holland it went close. Mighty close as Sociedad and Madrid scored the same number of points: 45 in 34 matches. Sociedad's goal difference was better though +29 to Madrid's +23.

Answer: LA Dodgers

The LA Dodgers (formerly from Brooklyn) came from 0-2 behind to clinch the series 4-2 against the New York Yankees.

Answer: New York Islanders

Minnesota was a surprise package in the final as it came up third in its division behind the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins. But, they overcame Boston in five and then Buffalo in six. In the end they were no opposition for New York, losing the first three games 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.

A 4-2 win in game 4 prevented a clean sweep, but the fifth and final match belonged to the Islanders, 5-1. With that result, the Islanders prolonged their title.

Answer: Oakland Raiders

On January 25, the Louisiana Superdome was the set for Super Bowl XV between Oakland and Philadelphia. Every result would be a first. On the one hand, Oakland could be the first winner that had entered the playoffs with a wild card, whereas Philadelphia made its debut in this event.

It was never a close game. After the first quarter Oakland lead 14-0. After the first half the score was 14-3, and with one quarter to play, Oakland led by 24-10. In the end, Oakland won it 27-10.

Answer: Boston Celtics

Boston scraped into the semi-final against Philadelphia, trailing 3-1 at one time. They won three close games though and met the Houston Rockets. The Rockets surprised many by getting so far, as they had a divisional record of 40-42. In the finals, they matched the favorites in the first four games, but then Boston won game 5 easily (109-80). The sixth game became a mere formality then.