The Real Madrid of Di Stéfano, Puskás, and Gento. The team that had won five European Cups. It seemed almost impossible to overturn the established hierarchy—but not for Helenio Herrera's Inter. Vienna, Prater Stadium. Inter assigned Tagnin to man-mark Di Stéfano, effectively neutralizing his threat. In goal was Giuliano Sarti, who had been struck by a powerful shot during the warm-up and was in pain. Bugatti was ready to replace him, but Sarti gritted his teeth and went on to deliver a flawless performance. Defensive discipline and counterattacking football: these were Herrera's chosen weapons. The difference was that Inter's counterattacks were led by genuine champions. The Nerazzurri took the lead just before halftime through a stunning long-range right-footed strike from Mazzola—explosive, unstoppable, and magnificent. The second half brought intense pressure, but Inter's defensive fortress held firm, thanks above all to the towering performance of captain Picchi. Milani doubled the lead in the 60th minute with a precise right-footed finish into the bottom corner, before Felo pulled one back with an acrobatic half-overhead kick to make it 2–1. Goalposts, goal-line clearances by Picchi, and tremendous determination allowed Inter to withstand Real Madrid's relentless assault, before Mazzola sealed the victory with his second goal. It was a historic brace that earned Inter their first-ever European Cup, with club president Angelo Moratti carried triumphantly on the players' shoulders.
INTER-REAL MADRID 3-1
Goals: 43' Mazzola (I), 60' Milani (I), 70' Felo (RM), 76' Mazzola (I). INTER: Sarti, Burgnich, Facchetti, Tagnin, Guarneri, Picchi, Jair, Mazzola, Milani, Suarez, Corso. REAL MADRID: Vicente, Isidro, Pachin, Müller, Santamaría, Zoco, Amancio, Felo, Di Stéfano, Puskás, Gento.
TEAM SQUAD
Bedin, Bolchi, Bugatti, Burgnich, Cappellini, Ciccolo, Codognato, Corso, Di Giacomo, Facchetti, Guarneri, Jair, Landini, Masiero, Mazzola, Milani, Petroni, Picchi, Sarti, Suarez, Szymaniak, Tacchini, Tagnin, Zaglio.