1974/75: Bayern triumph at Leeds' expense

FC Bayern München 2-0 Leeds United AFC
(Roth 71, Müller 83)
Parc des Princes, Paris

FC Bayern München became the fifth team to successfully defend the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1974/75, late goals through Franz Roth and Gerd Müller securing victory against Leeds United AFC in Paris. Dettmar Cramer's men therefore celebrated the win that rescued an otherwise disappointing season – they were tenth in the German first division – and set the scene for a hat-trick of European Cup triumphs 12 months later.

In fact, Bayern only really hit form in the semi-finals, having struggled past 1. FC Magdeburg and FC Ararat Yerevan. Here, against an AS Saint-Étienne side that had come from 4-1 down to beat HNK Hajduk, they followed up a 0-0 draw in France with a 2-0 success at the Olympiastadion. Leeds, on the other hand, had made short work of FC Zürich and Újpesti TE before overcoming FC Barcelona – Cruyff, Neeskens et al – in the last four.

With a 3-2 aggregate triumph, Don Revie's players emulated the Catalan side's achievement in reaching the finals of all three UEFA club competitions. Yet they were also in the habit of losing on the big stage, and the pattern continued as Bayern's campaign ended in a blaze of glory.