FC Bayern Munich didn't find a compatible schedule with South-American champions Club Atlético Independiente to play the 1975 Intercontinental Cup. The German club disputed the world title against the 1976 South-American champions, the Brazilian Cruzeiro Esporte Clube.
The first leg was held on 23 November 1976 at the Munich Olympic Stadium, home of Bayern. The match finished as a 2–0 victory for the home side, in a game with the pitch covered by snow. The goals were scored by Gerd Müller and Jupp Kapellmann.
Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, known as Mineirão, hosted the return leg on 21 December 1976. The match finished drawn by 0–0.
Bayern entertained their Brazilian visitors for the first leg of the Intercontinental Cup on 23 November 1976. Despite the arctic conditions, a 20,000 crowd made their way to the ground only to witness Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte turn in the livelier display. The home rearguard held firm before Gerd Müller claimed a typical poacher's goal to launch Bayern on the road to victory. The prolific goalscorer converted Uli Hoeness' lay-off for the opener ten minutes from time, before Jupp Kapellmann doubled the advantage two minutes later.[1]
Munich travelled to Brazil for the return three days before Christmas. Jet-lagged and after only four hours in bed, the German team stepped out into the 117,000 crowd seeking to defend their aggregate lead. Keeper Sepp Maier and libero Franz Beckenbauer and the Bavarians came away with a trophy-winning goalless draw.[1]
The German footballing public knew Dettmar Cramer as "Napoleon". Franz Beckenbauer reverently addressed him as the "Professor", a mark of respect the Kaiser used for a long time
. Cramer led Bayern to European Champions Cup success on two occasions before the victory over Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte. Cramer, who coached in 90 different countries before and after his time in Bavaria and held the German Federal Order of Merit and two honorary professorships, claimed to have learned one over-arching truth during a richly diverse career: "I've learnt no-one can tell whether somebody's a good or bad person just because he's black, white, yellow, red or green."[1]
Cruzeiro
