Rangers' semi-final pairing with Bayern Munich was as tough as it could get. Six of the Bayern team were to feature in West Germany's 3-1 victory at Wembley shortly after the Cup Winners' Cup ties – goalkeeper Sepp Maier, defenders Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner and George Schwarzenbeck, and strikers Uli Hoeness and Gerd Muller.
 |  |
© SNSpix | |
|
And so to Barcelona and Moscow Dynamo, with whom Rangers had drawn 2-2 in 1945 when the Russians had attracted much excitement by touring Britain.
On a problematic spying mission to Moscow, Willie Waddell had to queue to buy tickets for a Moscow Dynamo game in order to assess the opposition! Things did improve on the second day of his visit, with Lev Yashin, the famous Russian goalkeeper, explaining that this was the first time a Soviet team had reached a European final and that the players could be awarded the coveted title Master of Sport, should they return from Barcelona the victors.
Rangers' preparations for the final were better than Dynamo's. The Russians stayed at a hotel in a noisy part of town and became something of a tourist attraction; meanwhile Waddell had his men in a quiet hotel 15 miles from the stadium. The players were discouraged from sunbathing, and food had been brought over from home.
Barcelona itself had seen an invasion of Rangers fans: 110 charter flights, 203 buses and many more travelling independently brought the Rangers support to around 16,000. In contrast, Moscow Dynamo were backed by around 400 fans.
In terms of playing personnel, Colin Jackson had broken down in training, his ankle unable to withstand further rigour, but on the plus side captain Greig had recovered and was set to make his return from injury.
It was a terrific final under the new floodlights of the Camp Nou for the attacking football that was played, though the numerous invasions by drunk, exuberant Rangers fans and the subsequent heavy handedness of the Spanish police marred Rangers' greatest moment.
