The 1976 Intercontinental Cup was an association football tie held over two legs in November and December 1976 between Cruzeiro, winners of the 1976 Copa Libertadores, and the winners of the 1975–76 European Cup, Bayern Munich.
FC Bayern Munich didn't find a compatible schedule with South-American champions Club Atlético Independiente to play the 1975 Intercontinental Cup. The German club disputed the world title against the 1976 South-American champions, the Brazilian Cruzeiro Esporte Clube.
The team of Bavaria held the base of the German team who won the 1974 FIFA World Cup, with players like Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Gerd Müller. Cruzeiro was the first Brazilian club to become champion of the Copa Libertadores after Pelé's Santos FC. The team had the 1970 FIFA World Cup champions Wilson Piazza and Jairzinho, and other famous players like Nelinho, Raul Plassmann and Dirceu Lopes.
The first leg was held on 23 November 1976 at the Munich Olympic Stadium, home of Bayern. The match finished as a 2–0 victory for the home side, in a game with the pitch covered by snow. The goals were scored by Gerd Müller and Jupp Kapellmann.
Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, known as Mineirão, hosted the return leg on 21 December 1976. The match finished drawn by 0–0.
Match summary Bayern entertained their Brazilian visitors for the first leg of the Intercontinental Cup on 23 November 1976. Despite the arctic conditions, a 20,000 crowd made their way to the ground only to witness Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte turn in the livelier display. The home rearguard held firm before Gerd Müller claimed a typical poacher's goal to launch Bayern on the road to victory. The prolific goalscorer converted Uli Hoeness' lay-off for the opener ten minutes from time, before Jupp Kapellmann doubled the advantage two minutes later.
Munich travelled to Brazil for the return three days before Christmas. Jet-lagged and after only four hours in bed, the German team stepped out into the 117,000 crowd seeking to defend their aggregate lead. Keeper Sepp Maier and libero Franz Beckenbauer and the Bavarians came away with a trophy-winning goalless draw.
Key player To this day, fans in Munich admire Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller, for strategy and scoring, respectively.
Coach The German footballing public knew Dettmar Cramer as "Napoleon". Franz Beckenbauer reverently addressed him as the "Professor", a mark of respect the Kaiser used for a long time . Cramer led Bayern to European Champions Cup success on two occasions before the victory over Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte. Cramer, who coached in 90 different countries before and after his time in Bavaria and held the German Federal Order of Merit and two honorary professorships, claimed to have learned one over-arching truth during a richly diverse career: "I've learnt no-one can tell whether somebody's a good or bad person just because he's black, white, yellow, red or green."
First leg Match details
GK 1 Sepp MaierDF 2 Björn Andersson DF 3 Udo HorsmannDF 4 Hans-Georg SchwarzenbeckDF 5 Franz Beckenbauer (c)MF 6 Bernd DürnbergerFW 7 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge MF 8 Conny TorstenssonFW 9 Gerd MüllerFW 10 Uli HoeneßMF 11 Jupp KapellmannManager: Dettmar Cramer GK 1 Raul PlassmannDF 4 Nelinho DF 3 Morais DF 2 OziresDF 6 VanderleiMF 5 Wilson Piazza (c)MF 8 Zé CarlosMF 9 PalhinhaFW 10 EduardoFW 7 JairzinhoFW 11 Joãozinho Substitutes: FW 16 Dirceu Lopes Manager: Zezé Moreira
Second leg Match details
GK 1 Raul PlassmannDF 4 Nelinho DF 3 Morais DF 2 OziresDF 6 VanderleiMF 5 Wilson Piazza (c) MF 8 Zé CarlosMF 9 PalhinhaFW 10 Dirceu Lopes FW 7 JairzinhoFW 11 JoãozinhoSubstitutes: DF 13 Pablo Forlán FW 14 Eduardo Manager: Zezé Moreira GK 1 Sepp MaierDF 2 Björn Andersson DF 3 Udo HorsmannDF 4 Hans-Georg SchwarzenbeckDF 5 Franz Beckenbauer (c)MF 6 Sepp WeißFW 7 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge MF 8 Conny TorstenssonFW 9 Gerd MüllerFW 10 Uli HoeneßMF 11 Jupp KapellmannSubstitutes: MF 13 Fred Arbinger Manager: Dettmar Cramer
See also FC Bayern Munich in international football competitions
References
External links Intercontinental Cup 1976 Match details and lineups at RSSSF.com