[1] The final was played over two legs at Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy, and at Elland Road, Leeds, England.

It was won by Leeds United of England, who defeated the Italian team Juventus on the away goals rule after a 3–3 aggregate draw to claim their second Inter-Cities Fairs Cup title.

It was the first time the competition final had been won on the away goals rule.

It was also the second Fairs Cup final lost by Juventus, who still had not won a European title.

Notably, the first leg of the final was replayed from scratch two days later after the initially scheduled game, which was abandoned after 51 minutes of play with a score of 0–0 due to heavy rain and a waterlogged pitch.

As no team had ever managed to permanently win the Inter-Cities Fairs trophy that was to be discontinued, its destination was decided in a special play-off between the first and last competition winners: Barcelona and Leeds United, respectively.

[1] A total of 64 teams from 29 countries were entered in the 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

For the first time, a team from Finland entered the competition, with the allocation scheme being redrawn as follows Scotland and Yugoslavia gained a fourth birth, which Portugal lost.

These places came mainly from the loss of a second Fairs Cup birth by East Germany, Norway and Northern Ireland.

The first leg of the 1st round match-up between Sevilla FC and Eskisehirspor was played on a Saturday.

The referee called the end of the game three minutes before the regulation time and had to abandon the pitch escorted out by Beveren's players because of the pressure and the protests by the visiting team as a result of his decision.

Game abandoned in the 51st minute due to heavy rain and waterlogged pitch.