The 1978–79 season of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by FC Barcelona in the final in Basel against Fortuna Düsseldorf. It was the first of four occasions that the Spanish club won the tournament. No club from Finland, Albania and Turkey joined this season.

First round

First leg

Second leg

Ipswich Town won 2–0 on aggregate. SSW Innsbruck won 4–3 on aggregate. Barcelona won 4–1 on aggregate. Internazionale won 8–1 on aggregate. FK Bodø/Glimt won 4–2 on aggregate. NK Rijeka won 3–2 on aggregate. K.S.K. Beveren won 6–0 on aggregate. Fortuna Düsseldorf won 5–4 on aggregate. Aberdeen won 5–3 on aggregate. Servette FC won 4–2 on aggregate. AS Nancy won 4–2 on aggregate.

1. FC Magdeburg won 5–1 on aggregate. Ferencvárosi TC won 4–2 on aggregate. Baník Ostrava won 2–0 on aggregate. Shamrock Rovers won 3-0 on aggregate.

Second round

First leg

Second leg

Ipswich Town won 2–1 on aggregate. 3–3 on aggregate; FC Barcelona won on penalties. Internazionale won 7–1 on aggregate. K.S.K. Beveren won 2–0 on aggregate. Fortuna Düsseldorf won 3–2 on aggregate. Servette FC won 4–3 on aggregate. ''2–2 on aggregate; 1. FC Magdeburg won on away goals.'' Baník Ostrava won 6–1 on aggregate.

Quarter-finals

First leg

Second leg

''Barcelona 2–2 Ipswich Town on aggregate. Barcelona won on away goals'' K.S.K. Beveren won 1–0 on aggregate Fortuna Düsseldorf won 1–1 on away goals Baník Ostrava won 5–4 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

First leg

Second leg

Barcelona won 2–0 on aggregate. Fortuna Düsseldorf won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final