#Football
Football : Real Madrid Legends 3 – 2 Barcelona Legends
The biggest game of the season fell in Los Blancos favor.
Pedro Munitis and Ruben de la Red rolled back the years in an important victory for the famed Real Madrid Legends side in Israel.
Both sides trotted out quite an obscure group of players to relieve their glory years on a football pitch. Courtesy of having employed most their best former legends as managers or ambassadors (Iker Casillas was in the crowd), calling the side that lined up for Real Madrid legends is probably a little strong. The biggest names on the team sheet were undoubtedly Roberto Carlos – who captained the side – and Luis Figo. Ivan Campo and Fernando Sanz were also present alongside the likes of Ruben de la Red and Jose Amavisca. Barring that, there were some good Real Madrid pub quiz answers decked out in the all white such as striker Alfonso Perez who is also Real Betis third highest goalscorer.
Barcelona boasted the better lineup on paper. Rivaldo, Javier Saviola (one of six across both sides to have played for both clubs), Deco and Ronaldinho all featuring for La Blaugrana. Perhaps courtesy of their big names, Barca dominated the opening part of this game. Ronaldinho put in a โstill got itโ sort of half which Youtube is bound to enjoy, setting up a rather off pace Rivaldo for a couple chances. Eventually, the Brazilian himself put Barca in front from the penalty spot.
Itโs Barรงa legends vs. Real Madrid legends right now and Ronaldinho scores a penalty in El Clรกsico. Itโs just a pen but Ronaldinho – wearing 10 – hugging Rivaldo – whoโs also wearing 10 – is giving me serious nostalgia pic.twitter.com/G4hfMGclzq
โ Luis Miguel Echegaray (@lmechegaray) July 20, 2021
Real Madrid highlights mostly came from long shots, the best from Ruben de la Red as it landed right at the feet of Amavisca with the goal at his mercy. Unfortunately he bundled the shot over the bar and the half finished 1-0.
That a late 1990/early 2000s side was run ragged by Ronaldinho was probably fitting, however, the Real Madrid Legends (or Real Madrid Dudes as Iโve taken to calling them) were keen to flip the script in the second half. Mere minutes into the restart and The Dudes were level courtesy of a Amavisca long shot rebounding to Pedro Munitis whom scored after taking the goalkeeper out of the equation.
ยกAsรญ fue el gol del empate de Munitis! Los @VeteranosRM se quieren quedar con el Clรกsico de las Leyendas en Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/xQm1jGHmBx
โ Goal Espaรฑa (@GoalEspana) July 20, 2021
At this moment in time, Pedro Munitis is most famous at Real Madrid for celebrating a goal against the club when he was on loan at Racing Santander during the 2002-03, but the virtuoso performance he put on in the first 10 minutes of the second half will certainly go a long way to rewriting the history books. Not long after levelling, Munitis chinked past his markers out wide and crossed into Alfonso Perez to, rather unconvincingly, put Real Madrid in front.
Munitis asistiรณ a Alfonso para la remontada del Real Madrid en el Clรกsico de las Leyendas. Los blancos, 1-2 por delante en el marcador. pic.twitter.com/Sr4fJA1Zmf
โ Goal Espaรฑa (@GoalEspana) July 20, 2021
The match settled after Realโs second, Madrid happy to sit back on their 2-1 lead. Roberto Carlos came off around the 60th minute and was soon joined by Luis Figo (whom Barca fans still hate enough to boo at a friendly). Then just before the 70 minute, 2 time appearance maker Jofre Mateu put Ivan Campo on his backside and levelled the match at 2-2 with a near post finish. In celebration, he had confetti poured into his hand and threw it over himself while the rest of his teammates stood back and watched.
Jofre Mateu โฝ๏ธ
Barรงa Legends 2๏ธโฃ-2๏ธโฃ Real Madrid
ยกGolaaazo! pic.twitter.com/udNA4j0hQd
โ FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) July 20, 2021
The excitement didnโt end there as Real Madrid responded immediately. Picking up possession from a foul, famous ex-young person Ruben de la Red skipped past a sliding tackle and swerved the ball into the far corner.
ยฟAlguien sabe si FIFA tiene en cuenta el Clรกsico de las Leyendas para el Premio Puskas? Vaya gol de Rubรฉn de la Red. Gana el Real Madrid 2-3 en Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/4WJOkJkGR2
โ Goal Espaรฑa (@GoalEspana) July 20, 2021
In spite of Barcelonaโs best efforts, de la Redโs goal was enough to seal sweet Clasico victory for Real Madrid. The highlights reel after this is mostly off the pitch where Luis Figo asked the fourth official to check VAR for an incident on the pitch and gave a young kid a jacket in spite of the best effort of some man trying to pull him away. Overall, the match wasnโt much in terms of nostalgia but it was fun for all involved. More to come on the podcast later on.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Legends Game, Ronaldinho, Figo, Roberto Carlos Rivaldo, Saviola…
