Date: Wednesday, 18^th January 1967.

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds.

Competition: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Third Round, First Leg.

Score: Leeds United 1 Valencia 1.

Scorers: Leeds United: Greenhoff. Valencia: Claramunt.

Attendance: 40,644.

Teams:

Leeds United: Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter; Giles, E. Gray, Greenhoff, Collins, Cooper.

Valencia: Pesudo (Aberlado); Sol, Videgany; Roberto, Mestre, Paquito; Guillot, Waldo, Ansola, Polinario, Claramunt.

Referee: Hans-Joachim Weyland (West Germany).

In the Elland Road first leg there was a repeat of the score-line of the previous season with a 1-1 draw, but thankfully none of the ugly scenes and bad temperaments which had marred that game. The game marked the return to the European arena of Bobby Collins, but it was to be his last in the competition and he only played one more league game before leaving on a free transfer to Bury.

United were without several regulars, notably the injured duo of Willie Bell and Mike O’Grady and flu victim Albert Johanneson as well as long term casualties Jim Storrie and Alan Peacock. The versatile Paul Madeley deputised at left back, while Bobby Collins’ return meant a return to the right wing for Johnny Giles and Terry Cooper took the left wing spot with Jimmy Greenhoff and Eddie Gray getting forward.

Valencia were the leading goal-scorers in Spain and Waldo the leading goal-scorer and so United were expecting fireworks. But after an initial sign of ascendancy from Valencia where Gary Sprakr needed to be at his acrobatic best to tip over an header from Fernando Ansola, it was United who were off to a flying start with Billy Bremner and Paul Madeley leading the charge as Valencia retreated. Two shots were deflected to safety, but Jimmy Greenhoff somehow managed to slide the ball through the tightest of gaps to beat Jose Pesudo to open the scoring after eleven minutes. After that the Spaniards’ defence, with Roberto, Francisco Vidagany, Juan Cruz Sol and Manuel Mestre outstanding, placed an insurmountable barrier in front of the Leeds attack. However, Valencia refused to panic and regained the initiative to equalise in the thirty-sixth minute through Jose Claramunt, who was on hand to round off an exquisite move featuring Manuel Polinario’s fine individual skills from six yards.

There was a feeling of déjà vu when Jack Charlton ventured upfield and after a collision with Jose Pesudo, the Valencia keeper, and the custodian was stretchered off. Fortunately for the game, substitute keepers were allowed and Angel Aberlardo replaced Jose Pesudo and so Valencia were not reduced in numbers. Pesudo had tipped an Eddie Gray header over the bar but needed treatment for an injury and quickly the Valencia trainer was in employment once more as Jose Pesudo and Jean Cruz Sol needed attention after the next Leeds attack. The referee had to stop play twice as Jose Pesudo sat down on his line, with the crowd suspecting he was just time-wasting. There suspicions were wrong and the keeper was replaced. The crowd could sense that the game was deteriorating, although not to the extent of the previous clash, but when Terry Cooper raised his foot in a challenge on the new keeper, it was apparent that the way European keepers were treated as sacrosanct and the way English keepers are buffeted were poles apart.

In the Leeds goal Gary Sprake didn’t need the protection but he pulled off a superb save to deny a powerful header from Spanish International centre-forward Fernando Ansola and later had to be alert to stop Manuel Polinario from adding his name to the scoresheet. Angel Aberlardo also showed his ability by twice denying Billy Bremner.

Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles and Bobby Collins had fine games in midfield, but on balance United were probably content with the 1-1 draw as Valencia had created enough chances to have won. However, everyone said “Well, that’s it. Leeds can say goodbye to Europe for another season, at least” Manager Don Revie admitted, “I was hoping we would go to Spain for the return with a two goal lead. Now it means we have a lot of hard work, in that game. But it isn’t all over yet.” And so it turned out to be.

Match Action:

Jimmy Greenhoff blasts the ball past three Valencia Terry Cooper is thwarted by the Spanish goalkeeper

defenders to score United’s goal.