1963/64: Mazzola magic fires up Inter

FC Internazionale Milano 3-1 Real Madrid CF
(Mazzola 43 76, Milani 61; Felo 70)
Praterstadion, Vienna

The 1963/64 season marked a sea change in European football. The most compelling evidence of this came in the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup where Helenio Herrera's FC Internazionale Milano beat a fading Real Madrid CF 3-1 in Vienna. Thus the baton of power passed to a team synonymous with the catenaccio style of play.

On solid foundations, including sweeper Armando Picchi and full back Giacinto Facchetti, former FC Barcelona coach Herrera had grafted Spain's Luis Suárez, Brazil's Jair and Italy's own Sandro Mazzola, the young inside forward whose father, ex-Torino Calcio captain Valentino, had died in the Superga air tragedy of 1949.

This blend proved too strong for Everton FC, defeated 1-0 on aggregate in the opening round, AS Monaco FC, FK Partizan and semi-final opponents BV Borussia Dortmund. In the other half of the draw, holders Milan AC overcame IFK Norrköping before having the misfortune to meet a fired-up Madrid in the quarter-finals. The Merengues ran out 4-1 winners in the Spanish capital then lost 2-0 at San Siro - enough to earn a last-four clash with FC Zürich, who were dispatched with ease.

That, however, would be the last olé for Sres Puskás and Di Stéfano. While the 38-year-olds foundered on a miserly Inter rearguard at the Prater stadium, Mazzola was magic in the Nerazzurri attack. His two goals sandwiched another from Aurelio Milani, and all Madrid could muster by way of a reply was a consolation strike from Felo.