Madrid champions of Europe once more

Real Madrid CF were forced to come from behind in a tensely fought European Champion Clubs' Cup final but a late goal from Fernando Serena ensured a 2-1 win against FK Partizan and after six years of waiting, their elusive sixth triumph.

Curiously, Madrid coach Miguel Muñoz decided to rest Ferenc Puskás and José Santamaría – two of the team's most influential players en route to the final.

During the match itself, both teams battled for supremacy during a tense first 45 minutes and chances were created at both ends, but in their eagerness to score some kind of advantage, neither side could find the net and the first half ended as it started, at 0-0.

Madrid employed a different tack in the second half, playing neat passing football, and had their rivals on the back foot during the opening minutes. However, Partizan struck on the counter and managed to produce the first goal of the game on 55 minutes – Velibor Vasović the author.

Characteristically, the Spanish outfit kept their heads aloft and were back in contention a quarter of an hour later, when Amancio Amaro raced onto a deep pass from Ramón Grosso and turned inside Partizan's lone centre-back, before neatly slotting past an outcoming Milutin Soskic.

Six minutes later, Madrid were in front: Serena received a high ball 30m out, controlled and sent a blistering half-volley that gave the Yugoslavian side's goalkeeper absolutely no chance.

Referee Rudolf Kreitlein was forced to suspend play at various points while pitch invaders, sensing victory for Madrid, were detained. However, to add to those victories in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 came another night of glory – and the painful final defeats of 1962 and 1964 could at last be banished.