European Champions Cup. This was really a season without surprising results – practically nothing in the Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Cup; only two upsets in the Champions Cup: Paris SG was eliminated by TJ Vitkovice in the first round (2-2 and 0-1) and the Cup holders Steaua lost to Anderlecht in the second round (0-3 and 1-0). In the same round APOEL failed to appear against Besiktas – the international football bodies never stopped to argue that politics have no place in sports, but Cypriot clubs always refused to play against Turkish sides – Northern Cyprus was unforgivable, no matter what UEFA said. And slowly the tournament reached the semi-final round in which Bayern eliminated Real Madrid – 4-1 and 0-1 – and FC Porto prevailed over Dinamo Kiev 2-1 and 2-1. A final between Bayern and FC Porto – the arch-representative of German power vs one of the continuously improving teams in Europe, which was trying to establish itself among the top European clubs.
It was final which was not anticipated with excitement – the mood was rather dark and skeptical. Bayern was heavily favoured and most observers were sure of German victory, but it was going to be at big expense of attractive football. It was pointed out that European finals have been for years – sterile. It was pointed out that in the last 4 finals no goal from actual play was scored – all goals came from penalties. And there were very few goals – 7 of the last 9 finals ended 1-0. The final in the previous year was scoreless, so the highest scoring final in the last 9 issues happened in 1983 and it was 1-1. Hardly anybody expected anything different this year – analysts concluded that both finalists depended largely on strong defensive lines and will try to outwit the opponent with counter-attacks. And apart from German and Bayern fans nobody was very happy to see victory of Bayern – the famous words of Gary Lineker were true, people disliked current German football for its dull physical approach and dependence largely on discipline, will power, and cold hacking of opponents. And what was truly irritating was that Bayern was expected to win – it was coming to the point of asking why watching the final at all? There was no thrill, everything was known in advance, a minimum of hour and half of dullness. Perhaps even the Portuguese were going to support FC Porto only on principal and sure of Bayern’s win. Perhaps even Germans and Bayern fans were going to root for the team only on principal, not expecting to see anything enjoyable.
As for football matters, Bayern seemingly was the classier team, so even that was irritating – it looked impossible to beat the hated Germans. True, FC Porto was full of current Portuguese stars and was one of the most improved teams in the recent years, but when players were compared one by one… Bayern did not have particularly exciting squad at the time, especially when to compared to other previous and later vintages, but still had bigger stars than FC Porto. Pfaff was much greater goalkeeper than Mlynarczik, Eder, Nachtweih, and Pfluger were better known than the Portuguese defenders, Matthaus and Brehme were bigger stars than the Portuguese midfielders, and Dieter Hoeness (who already announced his immediate retirement) and Michael Rummenigge had no match in the Portuguese attack. There was Madjer, an old German enemy, well remembered for scoring the winning goal for Algeria against West Germany at the 1982 World Cup finals, but only two years ago Madjer was playing in the French Second Division… And similarly the Brazilian striker Juary, although with plenty of European experience, was hardly top rate star. Bayern had no player like Futre, but their playing style did not require such a player… FC Porto, however, did not have versatile player like Brehme, which more seriously tipped the scales in favour of Bayern. Yet, there was nothing to make one rooting for Bayern… back in the 1970s unpleasant victories were saved with sympathy for great personalities like Beckenbauer, Muller, Maier, Hoeness, Breitner – there were no such players now, no excuse to be found and no reason to watch. Both teams were going to the final without key players – Bayern without Augenthaler and FC Porto without Fernando Gomes, but there was nothing to worry about – Gomes was already too old to make conclusive difference; whether Augenthaler played, or Eder played was essentially the same rugged tough physical thing. FC Porto was expected to play more attractive Latin football, which was to be crashed by the German machine. It was a final making one angry in advance – the ugly winner was known and it was also sure that there will be no football. A torture was coming, the football of the 1980s… If anything, the final was swan song for both coaches – Lattek already announced that he was leaving Bayern and Jorge was leaving FC Porto, the team he elevated from relative obscurity and made his own name respected on the way. But fans hardly appreciate games because they are the last for big name coaches. The last bitter drop was the unfortunate rare kit – practically never used again – of Bayern. The sky-blue shorts badly combined with their shirts and the kit only fueled more hatred against Bayern, this time on aesthetic grounds.
Final, Prater Stadium, Vienna, 27 May 1987, att 5600
FC Porto (0) 2 Bayern Munich (1) 1
24′ 0-1 BM: Kögl
77′ 1-1 P: Madjer
79′ 2-1 P: Juary
FC Porto (trainer Jorge): Mlynarczyk; Joao Pinto, Eduardo Luis, Celso, Inacio (Frasco 66); Quim
(Juary 46), Magalhaes, Madjer, Sousa, Andre; Futre
Bayern Munich (trainer Lattek): Pfaff; Winklhofer, Nachtweih, Eder, Pflüger; Flick (Lunde 82), Brehme, Matthäus, M.Rummenigge; Hoeness, Kögl
Referee: Ponnet (Belgium)
The final started as expected – both teams were well fortified at the back, the Portuguese were sharper and more technical, but German defense did not let them come into the penalty area. The Germans pressed hard and their approach was to try lure FC Porto going ahead, but going into attacks as well.
The German pressure kind of worked at first, at least to the eye – they seemed more active and dangerous, they seemingly controlled the game. FC Porto, as expected, preferred counter-attacks and they were more creative and pleasant than the repetitious German runs on the wings ending with long high balls in hope to find the head of Dieter Hoeness, but German defenders always killed Portuguese attacks well before approaching the penalty area, which forced the Portuguese to try long shots at the net – not a big danger for Pfaff.
Beating the Germans was difficult task, bordering to the impossible: they were always too many of them around and Futre was able to beat one or two, but not the third coming. And as usual the Germans hacked as a matter of business – Futre was the prime receiver of hard kicks, which, again as usual, were not bookable.
At least in the first 20 minutes Bayern appeared more dangerous – not particularly effective, but persistent, so may be once they could beat the Portuguese defense and it will be all over. And they succeeded in most bizarre manner: a weird decision by the referee, later much criticized (Jorge said after the game that the referee created a new rule, but failed to inform the teams of it), led to the ball bouncing from the head of Portuguese defender to the head of Kogl and from there in the net. 1-0 Bayern, game over…in the 24th minute.
The rest was going to be sheer torture… and immediately went the expected way. Bayern became more brutal, FC Porto got nervous and retaliated. The game was rapidly deteriorating into ugly battle and the referee was on the verge of losing control at one points. Cards were distributed – 4 yellows altogether – but, remember: this was the 80s. Short of murder nobody would see red… and yellow was difficult to get too. Futre was hunted down constantly and nobody was punished. Celso, already booked, committed vicious foul for which alone should have been red-carded, but even lesser offense, deserving yellow was not seen by the referee and he continued playing. But the weird goal and the following ugliness had strange effect on FC Porto – like they were spurred into action, gradually getting control of the game and pushing Germans back. Somehow Bayern lost the midfield and with that there chance for closing the game and killing time to the end. Instead, Bayern was forced to defend against increasingly dangerous FC Porto. It was not like the Germans provided scoring opportunities, but they were under constant pressure and the Portuguese were more technical and fast, so… may be the Germans would crack.
And eventually they did in the 78th minute, when Madjer equalized.
It was a goal well remembered – a cheeky back heel, daring and beautiful, which was something like triumph pf football over 1980s robotics. A reminder there was beauty in this sport, something instantly justifying the risk of watching the final. It was also extremely risky, in a sense, a matter of life and death – if Madjer did not score for whatever reason, it was really over. For all attacks and domination in the second half, FC Porto had little scoring opportunities. Missing this one would have been surely demoralizing. Scoring it in such manner, however, demoralized Bayern – FC Porto pushed again, Bayern cracked and two minutes later substitute Juary scored second goal.
This was different goal – powerful, confident, a show of skillful strength. Not a rare beauty like Madjer’s, but ‘manly’ goal – it was the final blow, Germans were killed by mightier team. Stronger team. Heavier team. The last ten minutes Bayern had no friends – apart from their fans, practically everybody else cheered for FC Porto. Not that much for the team as such, but for the victory of football over mechanic dullness. It was great to see German machine down at last.
And it was great to see FC Porto with the European Champions Cup! It is great to look at the winners even now, for it was an end of Artur Jorge’s era – he coached the team from 1984 to 1987 and this Cup was his final and highest success. With him FC Porto won the Portuguese championship twice, the Portuguese Supercup twice, and finally – the European Champions Cup. This was the second time FC Porto reached European final, but they lost to Juventus the 1984 Cup Winners Cup final.
To almost universal relief, Bayern lost the final. There was little to say in their favour – Udo Lattek had nothing at all. He was even unusually critical, unleashing uncharacteristic anger: ‘I can only congratulate myself for leaving this club’, he said after the final, ‘That is because I would not have to answer for players who do not follow my instructions, ignore the tactical scheme, and do not bother to play up to their own abilities any more’. He accused the whole team and when pressed by journalists singled out Lothar Matthaus as the biggest disappointment. And most observers supported Lattek – about Matthaus, particularly, it was observed in the past that he underperfoms at key games. Not a leader, but one fading away against strong opponents. That was lack of character, coming with heavy cost. Not a great vintage of Bayern, surely, but lack of character, bending under pressure, and undisciplined attitude was something alarmingly new and dangerous – German football was losing its basic assets. Lack of skills, lack of great players were compensated with discipline, character, and determination – without that, there was nothing left, a crisis.
FC Porto at its finest moment – winning European trophy for the first time. Winning the biggest European trophy! It was the culmination of Artur Jorge’s fine work, but also the fine work of the club, which steadily elevated itself to top of European football – a process started around mid-1970s. Of course, this squad became instant legend for Porto fans, but it is also well remembered elsewhere, largely for the iconic goal scored by Madjer. Beating hateful German football was also endearing to many and for that this vintage is also well remembered. But it was good squad too – plenty of talent, well balanced, and even with enough depth, which is always a sign that the team is not one-time wonder, coming today and gone tomorrow. Of course, as Portuguese club, FC Porto could not have the money to buy superstars, but they did great with what they had: dependable experienced foreigners (Mlynarczyk, Juary, Celso and Madjer), a plethora of local talent and a player already becoming a superstar – Futre. At the back was another great star – Fernando Gomes. He was aging and nearing retirement, but continuity was assured – he was there from the beginning of the building process, there were current top players, and Futre was the future, taking the torch from Gomes. That is how clubs build a dynasty, that is how they become strong internationally and stay that way. FC Porto practically confirmed its place among the top European clubs with this victory – it was successful and going to stay with the best.