Prior to the second leg in Dortmund, both clubs indulged in mind games. The Germans claimed that both their main strikers were injured and unlikely to play. For his part, Billy McNeill claimed that Stark, Whyte and McCarthy were all doubtful. In the event, all five played in the match. Mick McCarthy finally made his first team debut, having played only one reserve match in the previous eight weeks due to injury. Allen McKnight again started in goal as Pat Bonner was recovering from a virus.
Roy Aitken (Celtic) and Frank Mill (BVB) shake hands before the Dortmund v Celtic second leg match in 1987. Photo IMAGO / Kicker/Eissner
The second leg in Dortmund was a 53 000 sell-out. Three thousand fans travelled from Scotland, but the away support was also boosted by a sizeable contingent of Scottish servicemen stationed with the British forces in Germany. In those days, there was an unwritten agreement that Scots service personnel in Germany would turn out to support any Scottish side playing in Germany. This was the first occasion that this had benefited Celtic.
Dortmund were a different proposition on their own turf and enjoyed much the better of the return leg. Despite this, Celtic created a couple of chances in the first half but failed to take them. In the second half, Dortmund simply piled on the pressure. Then, as The Glasgow Herald reported: “Celtic’s resistance to a strong German side finally gave way in the last 18 minutes. Up to that point they had coped admirably and contained the Germans well with possession football.”
Torwart Allen McKnight (Celtic Glasgow) kassiert einen Treffer beobachtet von Thomas Helmer (3.v.li.) und Frank Mill (beide BVB, 2.v.re.) Fußball EC 3 Herren DEUTSCHSPRACHIGE SPORTZEITSCHRIFTEN UND -ZEITUNGEN NUR NACH RÜCKSPRACHE 1987 1988 Totale Dortmund. IMAGO / Kicker/Eissner
The first goal came in 72 minutes, when a corner from Dortmund’s left was met by Dickel, whose perfect glancing header inside the area gave McKnight no chance. Dortmund would now qualify on the away goal, but they made absolutely sure in 86 minutes, when a clever passing movement split the Celtic defence apart and allowed Dickel to side-foot his second goal from only eight yards out. For the second time in three seasons, the Bhoys were out of Europe in the first round.
At the end of the game, some German fans invaded the pitch and made their way towards the Celtic section, throwing missiles. Order was quickly restored by the police and the Celtic fans were praised for their restraint. This was a surprising development because it could be argued that these matches marked the start of a warm friendship between the fans of both clubs.
Dortmund v Celtic 1987. Frank Mill (BVB) wins heads the ball against Celtic 30.09.1987. Photo imago/Kicker/Liedel
In Glasgow and Dortmund, the Scots and the Germans mixed freely in the bars and public spaces. This relationship was only strengthened by the popularity of Murdo MacLeod with the Dortmund fans in the years ahead and by another UEFA Cup meeting in September 1992. By 1995, German fans could be clearly heard chanting “Celtic, Celtic” during the live transmission of Dortmund’s home Champions League match against Rangers.
Roye Aitken (Celtic FC) with Gerhard Kleppinger (BVB), Dortmund v Celtic 1987. 30.09.1987. Photo imago/Kicker/Eissner
