The UEFA Cup. Almost no surprising results – Belenenses (Lisbon) eliminated Bayer (Leverkusen), Sporting (Lisbon) -Ajax (Amsterdam) and Groningen prevailed over Atletico (Madrid) in the first round and that was practically all. Eventually, Napoli, Bayern, VfB Stuttgart and Dynamo (Dresden) reached the ½ finals and there was chance for West German final, but it was not to be: Napoli eliminated Bayern 2-0 and 2-2. VfB Stuttgart, however, eliminated Dynamo (Dresden) 1-0 and 1-1. In the first leg Napoli prevailed at home 2-1 and was leading 3-1 by the 62nd minute in Stuttgart. The hosts managed to equalized, but no more.
Final 1st Leg, San Paolo Stadium, Naples, 3 May 1989, att 83000
SSC Napoli (0) 2 VfB Stuttgart (1) 1
17′ 0-1 S: Gaudino 17
68′ 1-1 N: Maradona 68
87′ 2-1 N: Careca
SSC Napoli
Giuliani; Renica, Ferrera, Francini, Corradini (Crippa 46); Alemao,
Fusi, De Napoli; Careca, Maradona, Carnevale
VfB Stuttgart
Immel; Allgower, N.Schmaler, Hartmann, Buchwald; Schafer, Katanec,
Sigurvinnson, Schroder; Walter (Zietsch 70), Gaudino
Referee: Germanakos (Greece)
Final 2nd Leg, Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, 17 May 1989, att 67000
VfB Stuttgart (1) 3 SSC Napoli (2) 3
18′ 0-1 N: Alemao
27′ 1-1 S: Klinsmann
39′ 1-2 N: Ferrera
62′ 1-3 N: Careca
70′ 2-3 S: De Napoli og
89′ 3-3 S: O.Schmaler
Napoli won 5-4 on aggregate
VfB Stuttgart
Immel; Allgower, N.Schmaler, Hartmann; Schafer, Katanec, Sigurvinnson,
Schroder; Walter (O.Schmaler 77), Klinsmann, Gaudino
SSC Napoli
Giuliani; Renica, Ferrera, Francini, Corradini; Alemao (Carranante 30),
Fusi, De Napoli; Careca (Bigliardi 70), Maradona, Carnevale
VfB Stuttgart lost by single goal and too bad for them. From left: Allgöwer, Immel, N. Schmäler, Katanec, Hartmann, Schäfer, Sigurvinsson, Schröder, Gaudino, Walter, Klinsmann. Not a bad side, for sure, but…
SSC Napoli achieved international success at last. At last, becanse having Diego Maradona practically required more than good seasons near the top. Yet, it was not exceptional squad and the final was practically between equals. Maradona scored only one goal against Stuttgart, but Klinsmann could not do better either. Still, Napoli prevailed – first coming from the back at home and extracting victory and then leading in Stuttgart, which put a big problem to the Germans and they were able only to equalize. The road to the final was not easy for Maradona and company: in the first leg they eliminated PAOK (Greece) by a goal – 1-0 and 1-1, then did better against Lokomotive (Leipzig) – 1-1 and 2-0, 1-0 (away) and 0-0 against Girondens Bordeaux, and neutralized solid lead of Juventus in the ¼ finals – 0-2 and 3-0 to meet Bayern in the ½ finals, where Napoli built a lead in the first leg 2-0 and kept it in the second: 2-2. Not great results, really, but one has to keep in mind that Napoli is an Italian team and therefore a 1-0 victory almost equals 4-0 or so for teams of other countries. Not impressive results, but Napoli lost only one during the whole campaign and that against Juventus. Thus, there was a new winner of the UEFA Cup and Diego Maradona won European trophy. Somehow, there was sense of finality – that was, seemingly, the most Napoli could do, their great period finished.
So, let take one more look at the new UEFA Cup winners.