The 1/16 finals produced even fewer surprises: Milan confirmed its suspect form by struggling against Akademik (Sofia). The Bulgarians won the opening leg 4-3 and given the historic difference of class, the second leg in Milano was not a walkover – Milan won 2-0, but really! 5-4 against small Bulgarian club – something was very wrong with Milan. And so was with Barcelona – they barely survived the Belgian KSC Lokeren, thanks to away goal – 2-0 and 1-2. Juventus had tougher luck – once again going to Manchester, this time to face United. Just like Manchester City, Juve lost 0-1 away, but did a bit better at home, winning 3-0 – vs 2-0 against City. I am not sure was it some relief for the Citizens to see United beaten by more goals then City, but I was surely unhappy. Yet, it was still a matter of fairly equal draw, where the win would go either way. Some other confrontation were similar, although involving not so famous clubs, including the elimination of Wisla (Krakow) by RWD Molenbeek (Brussels). The only bomb was dropped by AEK – after eliminating Dinamo (Moscow), now they faced Derby County. There was no question who will continue... even after the first leg in Athens, where AEK won 2-0. Only three goals were needed to restore justice... yes, there were three goals scored, but in the Derby County's net. AEK won again – 3-2.
In the third round Barcelona was clearly the luckiest – they had an easiest draw and progressed confidently after two large wins against Osters IF (Sweden): 3-0 and 5-1. May be too confident wins... The rest of the pairs were more or less between equals, so nothing really out of normal – Milan's play with fire finally ended: Athletic thrashed them 4-1 in Bilbao and the heroics of Milan were not enough at the end. They were short of a goal, winning 3-1 in Milano, and Athletic went ahead. More dramatic was the battle between Queen's Park Rangers and 1. FC Koln. Both clubs strong and playing their best football, the challenge was exciting. QPR built solid 3-0 lead in London, but what could be enough against Germans? On home turf they scored 4, however QPR managed to give one back and qualified for the next round thanks to the away goal. 'Normal' results end here, though – two major upsets were delivered: RWD Molenbeek took the scalp of Schalke 04. Granted, Schalke were not exactly great at the time, but still favourites against lesser Belgian club. It was not a walkover, yet, Schalke was unable to win at all – RWD Molenbeek advanced after 1-0 at home and 1-1 in Gelsenkirchen. And finally – AEK dropped a third bomb. The victim this time was Crvena zvezda. AEK won 2-0 in Athens and survived the barrage in Belgrade. They lost, surely, but scored precious away goal – 1-3 – and thanks to it moved up to ¼ finals.
On the surface, the ¼ finals were not all that problematic – with a single exception, the Spanish derby between Athletic and Barcelona, the rest was seemingly easy draw for the favourites. And even the Spanish pair appeared predictable – Barcelona was the likely winner. But one has to remember that Spanish football traditionally is triangular – it is not only Barcelona vs Madrid, but Basques against Spanish and Catalonians as well. If anything, the Basques are fighters and they clinched the victory – 2-1 and 2-2. Tough in Spain, but easy in Italy – Juventus practically eliminated 1. FC Magdebourg in East Germany, winning the first leg 3-1. In Torino, there was time for economy – 1-0 was enough to keep the East Germans humble. The other two ¼ final pairs went wrong... Feyenoord was expected to win, but apparently RWD Molenbeek built confidence and ambitions by progressing that far, and they were hungrier – they kept Feyenoord at scoreless tie in Rotterdam and clinched 2-1 win in Brussels. One fairy tale continued, the other however was surely to end – AEK were simply lucky so far. True, they eliminated much stronger opponents, but that is precisely the pure luck. Underestimated so far, but no doubt QPR had learned the lesson. AEK became ambitious, yet, QRP, if playing seriously, would be too much for the Greeks. Most likely QPR learned no lesson – they won with confidence in London, 3-0. Then they had to realize that two legs mean two matches... AEK won 3-0 in Athens, and after fruitless overtime the winner was to be decided by penalty shoot-out. Penalties were not the forte of British teams – to their own peril, the Brits somewhat think even now that shoot-outs are not the right way to produce a winner. Hence, shoot-outs were British weakness – and AEK won dramatically 7-6. Second fairy tale continued, bigger than RWD Molenbeek's – so far, AEK eliminated Dinamo (Moscow), Derby County, Crvena zvezda, and Queen's Park Rangers. Coming close to the final.
Coming close, but no closer – AEK faced Juventus in the semi-final. The Italians knew how to learn lessons and underestimating was hardly in their character. They were too much for the Greeks – the fate was decided in Torino, where everything became painfully clear: 4-1 for Juventus. Try scoring 4 goals to Dino Zoff. Try coming near to Dino Zoff, actually. AEK did not come close even to a goal – Juventus won in Athens as well, 1-0. RWD Molenbeek fared better – Athletic was still considered not that great opponnent and Belgians ever play seriously, on top, if not above, their abilities. Neither club won a match, but the Basques managed to score away goal in Brussels. After 1-1 and 0-0, they went ahead. RWD Molenbeek at least exited unbitten and unhumiliated.
The end of a dream: captains Morini (Juventus) and Papaioannou (AEK) shaking hands before the match ending 4-1 Juventus.
Juventus vs Athletic. Two clubs with long history and big standings in their respective countries. Also two clubs so far never winning anything in Europe, unlike all of their great enemies. No wonder, both opponents were highly ambitious. Given the traditions, the history, the mentality in both countries, the final was not to be a pinnacle of exciting football, but rather heavy clash. And true to expectations, it was not memorable final. A careful affair, full of trickery, stifling and suffocating the game. Both teams were defensively-minded, did not shy away from time-wasting and simulations. There were plenty of killers in each team, and if the finals were not condemned as particularly vicious, the reason may be that both teams were the same, so there was no clear victim to be seen. Juventus looked mightier on paper, but the boys from Bilbao were especially tough bunch. They had stars as well – Iribar, Alexanko, Guoicoechea, Irureta, but it was the collective toughness to matter. As for Juventus – their line-up speaks for itself. In front of 75 000-strong crowd, Juventus clinched Italian-style victory at Stadio Comunale – 1-0. Tardelli scored in the 15th minute.
Final 1st Leg, Stadio Comunale, Turin, 4 May 1977, att 75000
Juventus (1) 1 Athletic Bilbao (0) 0
15' 1-0 J: Tardelli
Juventus
Zoff; Cuccereddu, Gentile, Scirea, Morini; Tardelli, Furino,
Benetti; Causio, Boninsegna (Gori), Bettega
Athletic Bilbao
Iribar; Oñaederra, Escalza, Guoicoechea, Guisasola; Villa, Irureta,
José Angelo Rojo, Churruca; Dani, José Francisco Rojo
The second leg at San Mames was attended by almost half of the Torino's audience, but it was Basque crowd. Juventus again scored early, steering the match in the traditional Italian pattern. The hosts were not some continental or British club, though. Tooth for tooth they fought and finally won 2-1.
Final 2nd Leg, San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, 18 May 1977, att 43000
Athletic Bilbao (1) 2 Juventus (1) 1
7' 0-1 J: Bettega
11' 1-1 AM: Churruca
78' 2-1 AM: Carlos
Athletic Bilbao
Iribar; Lasa (Carlos), Guisasola, Alesanco, Escalza; Villa,
Churruca, Irureta; Amarrortu, Dani, José Francisco Rojo
Juventus
Zoff; Cuccureddu, Morini, Scirea, Gentile; Causio, Tardelli,
Furino, Benetti; Boninsegna (Spinosi), Bettega
Athletic won, but the EUFA Cup went to Torino... Bettega's away goal decided the outcome. The result is unusual, even unfair, but rules are rules. The point is, there was no clear winner – perhaps the most equal of finals. There is not convincing argument in favour of Juventus, yet, it was not unfair victory, like some of the finals of the 1970s, where sympathies were on the losing side. Here, either team would have been unconvincing winner. Both played similar tactics – 4-4-2; both were rough killers of football; both professed philosophy of winning only, football actually unimportant for the aim.
