In a Press Conference held on 27th August 1970 at the club premises, Hibernians’ President Lawrence Xuereb revealed that the Spanish club had asked Hibernians to play both home and away matches at the Bernabeu. Real had offered the Paolites an undisclosed vast sum of money in exchange, but after due consideration Hibernians turned down their offer.

– Real Madrid arrived in Malta on Sunday 13th September at 2.00 p.m and were staying at the Corinthia Hotel.

– Entrance prices were as follows: Reserved Seats £1; Enclosure 15 Shillings; Enclosure for Boys: 5 Shillings: Ground: Ten Shillings; Boys Three Shillings Six Pence. Tickets for the match were on sale as from 1st September and could be bought from the Stadium Management in Gzira; Muscat General Stores in Valletta; Central Bazaar in Valletta and at the Roma Kiosk in Blata l-Bajda.

– Match tickets for Gozitans could be obtained from Gozo football clubs.

– On the day of the match there was a special trip from Mġarr, Gozo to Manoel Island at 1.30 pm for those Gozitans who wished to watch the game. After the match the return trip to Gozo was to leave Manoel Island at 6.30 p.m.

– The gates at the Stadium opened at 12.30 pm.

– Skipper Johnnie Privitera was declared fit to play by Club Doctor Dr Vincent Moran few hours before the match after he had picked an injury four days before in the Independence Cup match against Sliema Wanderers. Privitera is seen with a bandage protecting his hamstring.

– Similarly player Eddie Theobald was in doubt whether he would make the first eleven after falling badly in the same match against Sliema damaging his wrist. Theobald played with a heavily bandaged arm.

– Hibernians hit the crossbar as early as the second minute of the game through a lightning shot from Charles Micallef ‘Id-Dunda’ which had Spanish goalkeeper well beaten and could have won the match in the dying minutes when Dunda again raced all alone towards the Spanish goal when put through by substitute player Alan Blocklock but his shot sailed slightly over the bar.

– Real Madrid qualified for the Second Round with an aggregate score of 5-0 as they won the Second Leg 5-0 at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on 30th September 1970

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MATCH STATISTICAL DETAILS

Wednesday 16th September 1970
The Stadium – Gżira.

European Cup Winners’ Cup.
First Round – First Leg
Attendance: 16,056
Kick Off: 16:00

Hibernians FC – Real Madrid (Spain) 0-0

Hibernians FC: 1 Freddie Mizzi, 2 Johnnie Privitera – Captain, 3 Freddie Mallia, 4 Eddie Theobald, 5 Edward Azzopardi, 6 Freddie Delia, 7 Charlie Micallef ‘Id-Dunda’, 8 Salvu Gatt, 9 Salvu Bonello, 10 Norman Buckle, 11 Lorry Young (Allan Blocklock 70’).
Technical Director: Stanley Matthews. Coach: Joe Attard

Real Madrid: 1 Jose Luis ‘Borja’, 2 ‘José Luis’ López Peinado, 3 ‘Manuel Sanchis’ Martínez, 4 José Antonio Grande, 5 Pedro Eugenio ‘De Felipe’ Cortés, 6 Gregorio Benito, 7 ‘Amancio’ Amaro Varela, 8 José Martínez Sánchez ‘Pirri’, 9 Juan Bautista Planelles, 10 Manuel Velázquez, 11 Francisco Gento – Captain (Sebastián Fleitas 46’).
Coach: Miguel Muñoz.

Referee: Leo Callaghan (Wales).
Linesmen: J. Davies (Wales) and L. Roberts (Wales)