The 1961-62 Cup Winners’ Cup final was played on 5 September 1962. Facing each other in Stuttgart are Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, in what is nothing more than a replay after the 1-1 draw played, in fact, in another season, that is, in the Primavera.
Because there was a time in European football when a final could be “replayed” four months later. And not from January to May, or October to February. But with summer in between. Imagine playing the first game in Glasgow on May 10, drawing, being forced to miss a good chunk of time for international commitments (i.e. the 1962 World Cup in Chile) and replaying the next one on September 5.
Now it would be truly unthinkable, between the transfer market and all the consequences that this would imply. Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina had drawn thanks to goals from Peirò and Hamrin. In the return match, however, there was no contest, a 3-0 win by the Spanish club that frustrated the Viola’s hope of remaining champions of the competition, won a year earlier. Between one final and the other, Fiorentina changed four players: from Sarti, Gonfiantini, Rimbaldo and Bartu to Albertosi, Robotti, Malatrasi and Marchesi. One change for Atletico, from Chuzo to Jorge Griffa.