The ground's new floodlights had been turned on for the first time a month previously, for a league game against Bolton Wanderers, so, having hosted teams at Maine Road to this point, our first European visitors were holders Real, a simply fantastic side.
Although Madrid held a 3-1 lead from the first leg, all hope was not lost for Matt Busby's famed Babes after Athletic Bilbao had been beaten 3-0 in February, following a 5-3 reverse in Spain, on a memorable night in Manchester.
A full house would celebrate the occasion, the game was being shown on television, and all of England was apparently united in willing the Reds to victory.