Dinamo signed one of the greatest comebacks in the history of their European appearances that day. The opponent was Greek side AEK who had defeated the Blues 2-0 in the first leg on their home ground. It was the 1st round of the Cup Winners' Cup, a highly prestigious competition at the time, which alongside the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, later the UEFA Cup, was second only to the European Cup. Despite the Greeks having a two-goal advantage and Dinamo failing to score away from home, the Blues progressed thanks to a brilliant performance in the return leg in Zagreb where they triumphed 3-0.

Dinamo recorded two victories against Romanian side Steaua in the continuation of the competition, but Torino proved superior in the quarter-finals.

Interestingly, the AEK team in the matches against the Maksimir club was managed by former popular Dinamo player Miroslav Mirko Kokotović, who had ended his playing career and begun his coaching career at our club. He had joined AEK that very summer from Fenerbahçe, with whom he had won the Turkish championship title by one point ahead of Beşiktaş and a full 11 points ahead of Galatasaray. That same season with Fenerbahçe, he had played in the Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals. He finished the league season with AEK as runners-up, three points behind Panathinaikos and five ahead of third-placed Olympiacos.

From AEK's lineup, Dimitrios Mimis Papioannou was absent on this occasion, having been the scorer of the first goal and assistant for the second in the previous match. However, Kostas Nestoridis played, who had been the assistant for the first and scorer of the second goal back then. Dinamo coach Vlatko Konjevod did not have a complete squad at his disposal, and among others, Zdenko Kobeščak was unavailable, having been sent off in Athens.

The Blues found the net in the final minute of the first half when Dražan Jerković sent the ball forward, Stjepan Lamza received it and fired home from the left. Less than five minutes had passed in the second half when Dinamo led 2-0, thus cancelling out AEK's advantage from the first leg. Lamza crossed from the left, and Slaven Zambata headed home from the edge of the penalty area. The third, winning goal came in a similar pattern, but in a "mirror effect" - a cross from the right side and a headed finish. Zambata was the provider and Jerković the scorer.

Within a four-minute span, in the 76th and 80th minutes, two players were sent off - one from each team. First, Spyros Pomonis had to leave the field after headbutting Željko Matuš head-to-head on the sideline. Zambata soon received a red card on the other side after losing his composure following numerous rough fouls he had endured, striking an opposing player in the face with his hand.

AEK took this defeat hard. After the match, according to media reports, a general brawl broke out. Romanian referee Petre Sotir allegedly had to take a detour to the dressing room to avoid aggressive Greek players, suffering several kicks to his legs with visible scratches. One AEK player even punched the assistant referee in the stomach during the match...

Furthermore, their technical director Kleanthis Maropoulos theatrically jumped beside the bench, shouting and provoking throughout both matches, even entering the pitch. Some Greek substitute players also attacked Dinamo coach Konjevod, who later showed journalists his bruises.