Managed by legendary tactician Nereo Rocco, the first proponent of Catenaccio, Milan had demolished Ajax 4v1 to win the European Cup Final. having previously eliminated holders Manchester United in the semi finals.
Milan's side was built on a sweeper system but were also dangerous in an attack containing 'Golden Boy' Gianni Rivera and a man who would cause much controversy in this tie, Nestor Combin.
Combin was born in Argentina, but moved to France, becoming a French Citizen.
Having an Argentine appearing for a European Club facing an Argentine side outraged the Argentinean press and fans alike. The Press had added fuel to the fire claiming Combin had deserted his country and refused to carry out his National Service.
1st Leg - Milan, Italy - AC Milan 3v0 Estudiantes
Milan would take a commanding 3v0 lead to Argentina for the 2nd leg following a bad tempered match in Milan. An Estudiantes player was hit by an object thrown from the crowd, and it got worse for the South Americans when Sormani gave Milan an early lead after appearing unmarked at the far post to convert a left wing cross.
Milan were happy to sit back, restricting the visitors to long range efforts while launching quick counter attacks.This tactic seemed to be working as Estudiantes Keeper Poletti was forced into action, in a game that was littered with fouls, with players needing to leave the pitch for treatment.
Milan would double their lead shortly before half time as Combin latched into a through ball, before taking the ball round Poletti and rolling the ball into the net.
The foul count would increase in the 2nd half, with Estudiantes guilty of most of the offences, bringing down the fleet footed Milan attackers
Despite losing Nestor Combin on with a facial injury, Milan extended their lead on 73mins. Following another foul by the visitors, Milan took a quick free kick and Sormani unleashed a fine finish past Poletti for his second goal of the tie.
The goal triggered more fouls by the visitors, who could have conceded a 4th after their offside trap was beaten, only for the offside flag to deny Milan another goal, but still left Estudiantes an uphill task to retain the Intercontinental Cup.
2nd Leg - Buenos Aries, Argentina - Estudiantes 2v1 AC Milan (Milan win 4v2 on aggregate)
There was a predictably hostile welcome for Combin and his Milan team mates for the 2nd leg in Argentina, with footballs kicked at the Milan players as they warmed up and hot coffee poured over them as they walked out of the tunnel.
The game itself was brutal, as Milan midfielder Giovanni Lodetti said: "When you had the ball, someone would arrive and hit you." One Milan player even claimed that he had been jabbed by a needle, a tactic used by the Estudiantes players of that era.
After just 18mins, Pierino Prati, who had scored a hat-trick for the Rossoneri in the European Cup Final was momentarily knocked unconscious, via an elbow by Alberto Suarez.
Whilst receiving treatment for the injury Estudiantes Keeper Alberto Jose Poletti kicked him in the back whilst the Referee was unsighted. Prati continued to play suffering from mild concussion and amnesia, before finally having to be substituted before half time.
In between all the violence Estudiantes had Milan on the back foot in the early stages. launching a number of balls into the Italian box, with Milan Keeper Cudicini frequently coming off his line to fend off the danger.
Against the run of play Milan extended their aggregate lead by opening the scoring, through Rivera, who intercepted an Estudiantes pass, before a 1-2 with Combin put him through on goal.
He took the ball round Poletti, who tried to bring Rivera down before slotting the ball into the Argentine net. Poletti responded by retrieving the ball from the net and launching the ball at the nearest Milan player before a tempers flared.
By half time Estudiantes had turned the game around and were ahead 2v1 on the night.
Conigliaro levelled the scores with a header after the ball fell invitingly for him following a blocked shot, and 2 minutes later Suarez volleyed the South American Champions ahead after Milan had failed to clear the danger from a corner.
But instead of pushing for a third goal the Argentines seemed more interested in dishing out punishment to their Italian opponents, a course of action that resulted in 2nd half dismissals for both Suarez and Manera.
Rivera was punched in the face by Poletti, but it was Nestor Combin who saw the worst of the treatment, being kicked in the face by Poletti and having his cheekbone and nose broken by Suarez.
Combin was asked to return to the field by the Chilean Referee, only to faint before leaving the pitch on a stretcher.
There was to be no further addition to the scoreline with Estudiantes winning 2v1, but losing 4v2 on aggregate, although the result was overshadowed by the violence on the pitch. It was less a game, more, as Gazzetta dello Sport put it, "Ninety minutes of a man-hunt Even after the final whistle the controversy continued with a battered and bruised Combin arrested and handcuffed by Police for failing to perform his military service, despite now being a French Citizen.
Combin spent the night in jail, before proving his innocence and joining his Milan colleagues, who had refused to fly home without him.
After international outrage Argentine President Juan Carlos Ongania demanded action be taken against Estudiantes, which resulted in Poletti, Suarez and Manera all being given 30 day jail sentence and a 20 year ban from Football, with Poletti's ban being a life ban.
This unprecedented action was rumoured to be a hard line approach to aid Arhentina's bid for the 1978 World Cup. The bans were eventually overturned, with all 3 players continuing to play for the Club.
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