Match summary
With the 1974 European Champions Bayern Munich refusing to participate in the Intercontinental Cup, alleging fixture congestion, it fell to Atletico Madrid , as runners-up, to fly the flag for the Old Continent against the reigning South America Champions Independiente de Avellaneda. With their Liga campaign already in full swing, the red-and-white party travelled to Buenos Aires for the first leg. In a lacklustre affair, the Spaniards set their stall out to defend and the Argentines were only able to convert one chance. A single goal from Balbuena put the tie on a knife-edge ahead of the return match.

On 12 April 1975 , the Vicente Calderon stadium was awash with colour, and a wall of noise enveloped the ground right from the first whistle. Irureta levelled the tie in the first half with a superb header, with Ayala's goal five minutes from time capping a bravura display from the home side and sending the 50,000 fans into raptures.

Key player
In the all-important return match, one player's performance would earn him legendary status among a generation of Atletico fans. Team captain Adelardo grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and bossed the centre of the park, launching wave after wave of attack. It was he who instigated the moves that lead to both goals, and he who received the loudest cheer from delirious Atletico fans when he hoisted the trophy aloft.

"The Intercontinental is a very prestigious competition in South America . The atmosphere when we went to Buenos Aires was incredible. The Independiente fans never stopped cheering their team on. We managed to get a decent result, and in the return game we were able to turn the tie around. It was my job to mark Independiente's danger man, Bochini, who was thought to be one of the best players in the world at the time," recalls Adelardo. He did his job well, preventing the Argentine star from getting a sniff at goal.

Coach
Coaching Atletico de Madrid in that thrilling final was none other than Madrid-born Luis Aragones. The previous season he had been the team's centre-forward, only hanging up his boots a mere five months before the historic Intercontinental Cup tie. "I'll still be just one of the lads but the players will need to understand my new responsibilities," he said as he took over the coaching duties from his mentor Juan Carlos Lorenzo.

As a player, Aragones had been the epitome of commitment and was able to instil this fighting spirit into his new charges. He was one of the best Spanish players of the 60s and 70s, turning out for eight different teams, although he played his best football in the red and white of Atletico. His medal collection includes one La Liga title, four Spanish Cups and one Supercup, as well the Pichichi award for top goalscorer in the Spanish league in the 1969/70 season which he shared with Amancio and Garate.

Nicknamed "The wise man of Hortaleza" because of the neighbourhood he grew up in and his vast experience, he has coached 9 Spanish first division clubs since 1975. These include FC Barcelona, Valencia CF, Real Betis and, of course, Atletico. He is one of the most highly-rated and distinguished coaches in Spain and is currently head coach of the Spanish national team.


1st leg
Independiente de Avellaneda 1-0 Atletico de Madrid
Goals: Agustín "Mencho" Balbuena 34'
Venue:Avellaneda
12 March 1975
Referee: Charles Corver (NED)
Independiente de Avellaneda:
José Alberto Pérez, Miguel Ángel López, Ricardo Elbio Pavoni, Eduardo Comisso, Rubén Galván, Francisco Pedro Manuel Sa, Agustín Alberto Balbuena, Aldo Fernando Rodríguez (Alejandro Estnislao Semenewicz 57'), Percy Rojas, Ricardo Enrique Bochini, Ricardo Daniel Bertoni (Luis Alberto Giribert 83').
Atletico de Madrid:
Reina, Melo, "Cacho" Heredia, Benegas, Capón, Eusebio, Alberto (Heraldo Becerra 46'), Adelardo, Irureta, Gárate y Rubén Ayala.
2nd leg
Atletico de Madrid 2-0 Independiente de Avellaneda
Goals: Irureta, 23' y Rubén Ayala, 85'
Venue: Madrid
Stadium:Vicente Calderon
10 April 1975
Referee: Carlos Robles (CHI)
Atletico de Madrid:
Pacheco, Mero, Heredia, Eusebio, Capón, Adelardo, Irureta, Alberto (Salcedo, 27'), Aguilar, Gárate y Ayala.
Independiente de Avellaneda:
José Alberto Pérez, Miguel Ángel López, Ricardo Elbio Pavoni, Comisso, Rubén Galván, Osvaldo Miguel Carrica, Agustín Alberto Balbuena, Hugo José Saggiorato, Percy Rojas (Aldo Fernando Rodríguez, 62'), Ricardo Enrique Bochini y Ricardo Danil Bertoni.