1964/65: Jair the difference for Inter

FC Internazionale Milano 1-0 SL Benfica
(Jair 43)
Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Of the 31 teams that entered the 1964/65 competition, Internazionale FC were again No1. The Nerazzurri emulated Real Madrid CF and SL Benfica's achievement in winning back-to-back European Champion Clubs' Cups by beating the latter team 1-0 in the final at San Siro. But as with the muddy, waterlogged pitch, so with the manner of victory. This was not a win for the purist.

Appearing in their fourth final in five years, Benfica were undone first by the conditions, which stymied their passing game, then by Jair's goal close to half time. Certainly, luck was on the Italians' side from the moment UEFA awarded the final to their home ground - the precedent having been set in 1956/57 when Madrid played AC Fiorentina at Chamartín.

Donna Fortuna was also in attendance when Inter edged past Rangers FC in the last eight; and again when they overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit to defeat Liverpool FC 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals. European debutants Liverpool questioned the legality of Joaquín Peiró's goal after the striker 'stole' a bounced ball from goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence.

While Inter struggled through, Benfica took the points for artistic merit. Eusébio and Co embarrassed Madrid 5-1 at the Da Luz stadium in the quarter-finals, then repeated the dose with a 5-0 dismantling of Vasas SC in the semis. That, though, was as good as it got for Lisbon's finest.