When Figo tore up the flanks, Xavi played delicate back flick from edge of box at Navi Mumbai

It wasn’t just a football match. It was a love letter to the past. On Sunday, under the glowing floodlights of the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, El Clasico returned. Not in its blering, modern-day form though, but through the lens of memory.Indian football fans got a taste of the storied rivalry as legends, who once lit up the Santiago Bernabeu and the Camp Nou, battled it out on Indian soil.
The energy was unmakable. Tens of thousands gathered outside the stadium, draped in the crisp whites of Madrid or the blaugrana (red and blue) stripes of Barcelona. These were fans who once stayed up through the night to catch glimpses of Carles Puyol diving into tackles, Luis Figo ghosting past defenders, or Fernando Morientes slotting it past goalkeepers with ease.
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Long before the players stepped onto the field, the air was already electric. Children zipped through the crowd in their favorite jerseys, dragging their parents along, or maybe it was the other way around. While the kids squealed in excitement at the thought of watching their heroes live, one couldn’t help but wonder: were they more thrilled, or were their parents reliving the magic of their own fandom, keenly awaiting the chance to see the stars they once worshipped on TV?
As the players took the field, the cheers matched the noise of the fireworks. Carles Puyol – that 2010 World Cup-winning captain and the one who led the Tiki-Taka stars – still radiating defiance; Xavi, the midfield metronome; Rivaldo, the Brazilian who paired up with Ronaldo to win the 2002 World Cup. On the Real Madrid side, Luis Figo was ready to tear up the flanks, Michael Owen, always lurking; and Fernando Morientes, the typical poacher who would soon roll back the years with a crisp, composed goal after receiving an immaculate flick from Figo himself.
On the eve of the match, star Portuguese defender Pepe spoke about how the goal of the Legends matches wasn’t just to compete, but also to entertain.
“This match, even as a Legends game, can do a lot for Indian football. It can inspire kids to play, to dream,” he would say.Story continues below this ad
And they did just that. Here are glimpses of what fans were treated to: Figo nutmegging Puyol on the edge of the box with the Spanish defender fighting back to have the last laugh; Michael Owen and Morientes combining up front, with the former even trying a turn around with finesse to release his strike partner; Rivaldo unleashing his stellar left-footed shot from outside the box and on another occassion, trying a backflick to find his teammate inside the box; Xavi absolutely leaving a red hot heat mark in the midfield, even trying a delicate back flick from the edge of the box.
The pace may have been gentler, and the touches and tackles lighter, but the artry remained.
Madrid’s David Barral showed such artry when he doubled his team’s lead. A slick solo move left Puyol and Frank de Boer trailing, sealing the 2–0 victory for Real Madrid Legends. But no one was keeping score. Which El Clasico would you see Barcelona fans cheering Madrid goals, Madrid fans applauding Barca’s flicks?
Even the pitch had its share of tiny, adorable invaders—kids. During the match, two young girls made a bold (and frankly adorable) attempt to step onto the field. But it was after the final whle that things got really entertaining: three boys launched a daring dash past security, dodging and weaving with moves that would make any rug coach proud. They were all eventually caught – grinning all the way – but one lucky lad scored big. His fearless sprint caught the eye of Madrid legend Chrian Karembeu, who rewarded the effort with a gesture to remember: he handed the boy his jersey.Story continues below this ad
DY Patil Stadium has seen cricketing milestones and rock concerts but on Sunday night, football fans were treated to a memory that will live on; a night when legends walked and Navi Mumbai walked with them.