Leeds United faced Barcelona at the Nou Camp in a one-off play-off match for the right to keep the Inter-Cities Fairs Trophy on this day in 1971.
There could be a new chapter added to the long history between Leeds United and Barcelona tonight, as Raphinha looks to become the first ex-Leeds player to lift the Ballon d’Or.
In 1971, Leeds player Terry Cooper was named on the shortlist for the award; however, he was not part of the side that travelled to Barcelona on this day 54 years ago today as Leeds looked to claim a piece of European football history.
Having overcome Juventus to win the 1971 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on away goals, Leeds were the last team to win the competition outright.
But with the tournament set to be replaced by the UEFA Cup, it was decided that a one-off play-off should be arranged between Leeds and Barcelona, the winners of the first edition in 1958. As a result, Revie’s side set off for the Nou Camp in their hunt to keep the trophy.
Joe Jordan scores in Leeds United defeat
Although Revie’s Leeds side claimed a number of titles during a golden era of successes, the legendary Leeds boss’s time at the club is also a tale of near misses.
The 1970/71 season, which led them to be in this play-off, is a perfect example, as Leeds finished second in the First Division table, one point behind Arsenal, after being forced to play eight games in all competitions in April.
Leeds’ Fairs Cup win over Juventus was the silver lining to that disappointment and handed them a shot at owning the trophy outright.
Leeds were missing six internationals, with big names such as Mick Jones, Allan Clarke, Terry Cooper, and Paul Madeley ruled out through injury. As a result, an under-strength side travelled to Catalonia. However, Leeds acquitted themselves well in front of a 35,000-strong crowd.
Barcelona took the lead through Teofilo Duenas, who headed home at the second attempt after Sprake saved his initial effort. Joe Jordan equalised two minutes later for Leeds to give them hope, but Duenas grabbed his second of the game to end Leeds’ hopes.
However, although Leeds would go on to finish second in the First Division again at the end of the season, they finally got their hands on the FA Cup, winning the Centenary Cup final in 1972 to ensure that they claimed some silverware to end the season.
What was the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup?
The Fairs Cup holds a unique place in the history of football, having first been held in 1955 to promote international trade fairs.
Originally featuring a one-city, one-club rule, the Fairs Cup threw up such quirks as a composite London XI taking part in the first edition of the tournament, which ran from 1955 to 1958.
There was no qualification via league position, unlike in the European Cup, or via success in a domestic trophy, which ensured qualification to the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Eventually, UEFA elected to end the tournament, replacing it with the 64-team UEFA Cup from the 1971-72 season, which is now known as the Europa League.
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