 Match programme cover | |||||||
| Event | 1971–72 European Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Date | 31 May 1972 | ||||||
| Venue | De Kuip,Rotterdam | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Johan Cruyff | ||||||
| Referee | Robert Héliès (France) | ||||||
| Attendance | 61,354 | ||||||
←1971 1973 → | |||||||
The1972 European Cup final was afootball match held atDe Kuip,Rotterdam, on 31 May 1972, that was contested betweenAFC Ajax of the Netherlands andInternazionale of Italy to determine the champions of the1971–72 European Cup. Ajax defeated Inter by a score of 2–0 to claim their second successive European Cup victory, following their triumph in the1971 final. Two second-half goals from forwardJohan Cruyff provided the margin of victory for the Dutch side.
This game has been cited asTotal Football's greatest moment. Ajax dominated much of the game as Inter defended desperately with theircatenaccio strategy.[1][2][3]
| Ajax | Round | Inter Milan | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | |
 Dynamo Dresden | 2–0 | 2–0 (H) | 0–0 (A) | First round |  AEK Athens | 6–4 | 4–1 (H) | 2–3 (A) |
 Olympique de Marseille | 6–2 | 2–1 (A) | 4–1 (H) | Second round |  Borussia Mönchengladbach | 4–2 | 4–2 (H) | 0–0 (A) |
 Arsenal | 3–1 | 2–1 (H) | 1–0 (A) | Quarter-finals |  Standard Liège | 2–2 (a) | 1–0 (H) | 1–2 (A) |
 Benfica | 1–0 | 1–0 (H) | 0–0 (A) | Semi-finals |  Celtic | 0–0 (5–4p) | 0–0 (H) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (A) |
Ajax | 2–0 |  Inter Milan |
|---|---|---|
Cruyff 47',78' | Report |
       Ajax |     Inter Milan |
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