United embrace the spirit of '68 on cover of programme for Real return leg

By Adam Shergold for MailOnline

Published: 04:37 EDT, 5 March 2013 | Updated: 15:54 EDT, 5 March 2013

Manchester United have evoked the spirit of the Sixties - and the magic of European nights at Old Trafford - with the programme cover for the Real Madrid match on Tuesday night.

The gold-fronted United Review collector's edition is based on the programme for the semi-final, first leg against the Spanish giants played on April 24, 1968.

United won 1-0 that night, courtesy of a goal from George Best, and protected their slender lead with a 3-3 draw in the Bernabeu to set up their famous final with Benfica at Wembley and the first of their three European Cup triumphs.

Collector's item: The United Review programme for this evening's Champions League match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford

Inspiration: The original programme for the semi-final, first leg with Real in 1968, which United won 1-0

The programme cover for Tuesday's round of 16, second leg encounter features the iconic trophy and a red banner with the British and Spanish flags - as in 1968.

But while the programme back then cost ninepence, the latest United Review will be £3. Whatever the result, it's sure to become a collector's item. 

In his programme notes for the match back in 1968, United manager Matt Busby was full of praise for Real's formidable European pedigree.

He wrote: 'They are, without doubt, the best-known club in Europe and they have a record unequalled in the premier tournament, the European Cup, for since its inception, they have never failed to qualify.

'It goes without saying too that Real have never failed to entertain; that they have received wonderful service from world-class stars such as Gento, Di Stefano, Puskas, Santamaria and many more.'

By 1968, Real were already six-time champions of Europe - notably winning the first five editions of the competition.

But United overcame them - albeit only just. A 36th-minute goal from Best in front of a full house at Old Trafford gave them something to defend in Spain.

They had a mountain to climb, however, when Real took a 3-1 lead in front of an enormous 125,000 audience at the Bernabeu thanks to goals from Pirri, Gento and Amancio.

United were thrown a lifeline when Zoco put through his own net shortly before the interval, but their second half performance stunned Real and Europe as a whole and strikes from David Sadler and Bill Foulkes earned a 3-3 draw and victory on aggregate.

Tough assignment: Manchester United's players greet the 125,000-strong Bernabeu crowd prior to the 1968 European Cup semi-final, second leg. They led 1-0 from the first leg

Close margins: Real's goalkeeper Antonio Betancourt scrambles across to deflect a United effort wide

Lifeline: David Sadler scores with a back heel to make it 3-2 to Real on the night and level the aggregate score at 3-3

Great victory: United striker Bobby Charlton (second left) celebrates with manager Matt Busby (second right), assistant Jimmy Murphy (left) and trainer Jack Crompton

VIDEO: Manchester United 1 Real Madrid 0 (European Cup semi-final, first leg - April 24, 1968)

VIDEO: Real Madrid 3 Manchester United 3 (Semi-final, second leg - May 15, 1968) Commentary in German

VIDEO: Watch highlights of United's 4-0 win against Norwich