The final was played over two legs at the Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and at the Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, West Germany.

It was won by Borussia Mönchengladbach of West Germany, who defeated Red Star Belgrade of Yugoslavia by an aggregate result of 2–1 to claim their second UEFA Cup title.

Red Star Belgrade became the third Yugoslav and second Serbian team to reach a European final, but couldn't defeat the more experienced West German side, who reached their fourth European final out of five in a seven-year span.

The original allocation scheme was as follows: East Germany and Bulgaria were the two associations selected to have a third birth for this season, while Poland and Switzerland went back to two qualified teams.

Also, both away games for Śląsk Wrocław in the first two rounds were held on a Saturday.

Enzo Ferrero scored an olympic goal.

West Bromwich Albion won 6–2 on aggregate.

6–6 on aggregate, Red Star Belgrade won on away goals rule.

2–2 on aggregate, Dukla Prague won on away goals rule.

On 23 November 1978, UEFA fined Milan $14,000 for a bribery attempt to the Scottish referee John Gordon and linesmen Rollo Kyle and David McCartney (Italian club took the officials to shop for free the day before the game).

Curiously, UEFA did not sanction the referee at all, however, Scottish Football Association suspended him.

West Bromwich Albion won 3–0 on aggregate.

West Bromwich Albion won 3–1 on aggregate.

4–4 on aggregate, MSV Duisburg won on away goals rule.

2–2 on aggregate, Red Star Belgrade won on away goals rule.