Barcelona, for all their talent, body check and foul their way to a two goal lead but their rugged tactics backfire as Villa hit two goals in the last five minutes to draw the tie and Barcelona’s bleating and deeply hypocritical appeals for a foul on the ‘keeper for John Deehan’s equaliser are rightly met with short shrift from the referee.

Villa face Barcelona for the first time in competitive football, Barcelona become the 115th team that the Villa first team has played in League or Cup football, Villa’s fifth continental European opponents and their second from Spain having played Athletic Bilbao earlier in the season.

Ron Saunders' Villa score two late goals to draw the UEFA Cup quarter final first leg against Barcelona ahead of a tough return match at the Camp Nou. 

Meanwhile, Saunders hands debuts to defender David Evans, 19, who joined from West Bromwich Schools in July 1974 and centre back Allan Evans, 21, after his move from Dunfermline Athletic for a fee of £30,000 in May 1977.