Memories and excitement, the Corazón Classic | OneFootball

A special day full of memories and excitement: the Inter Legends returned to the pitch to face the Real Madrid Leyendas in the Corazón Classic Match: Un partido con alma de infancia, a friendly organised to raise funds for the charitable projects of the Fundación Real Madrid. In a spectacular atmosphere, with a packed stadium, the legends of Real Madrid and Inter put on a show, creating an incredible celebration of the history of both Clubs and paying tribute to the world of football. At the Bernabéu, the Blancos won 2-1 with a comeback victory: Inter took the lead late in the first half through a goal from Hernanes, who was sharp to tap in the rebound after Contreras had saved the penalty, before Real Madrid turned the match around in the second half with two carbon-copy goals from Pepe and Barral. In the closing stages, a fine goal from D'Ambrosio was ruled out for offside. A wonderful celebration of football and passion, with the aim of raising funds for the charitable projects of the Fundación Real Madrid: a beautiful day that the Bernabéu supporters celebrated in the best possible way, with an incredible atmosphere.

REAL MADRID LEYENDAS 2-1 INTER LEGENDS | SCORESHEET

Goals: 41' Hernanes (I), 70' Pepe (R), 76' Barral (R)

REAL MADRID LEYENDAS (4-4-2): 1 Contreras (13 Bizzarri 50'); 2 Salgado (8 Velasco 72'), 3 Pepe (24 Granero 90'), 19 Sanz, 12 Ivan Campo (4 A. Garcia); 27 Karembeu (27 Nunez 52'), 24 Makelele (6 Milla 81'), 24 Granero (6 Tebar 61'), 11 Amavisca (23 Moral); 21 Pedro Leon, 9 Aganzo (7 Barral 46'). Unused subs: - Coach: José Antonio Camacho - Manolo Castro

INTER LEGENDS (4-4-2): 1 Toldo (1 Frey 34' (21 Orlandoni 62')); 13 Maicon (39 Santon 56'), 6 Lucio, 13 Ranocchia (21 Karagounis 60' (5 Galante 73')), 33 D'Ambrosio; 87 Candreva (4 Zanetti 46'), 19 Cambiasso (20 Obi 56' (87 Candreva 81')), 8 Pizarro (7 Pazzini 81'), 21 Karagounis (13 Guarin 28' (5 Emre 56' (73' 7 Van der Meyde (8 Palacio 90')))); 8 Palacio (29 Suazo 46' (21 Obinna 62')), 7 Pazzini (88 Hernanes 28' (20 Borja Valero 56')). Unused subs: - Coach: Giuseppe Bergomi.

Notes: 41' Contreras saved Hernanes' penalty

Referee: Carlos Megía Dávila Assistants: Hugo José López Puerta - Abraham Álvarez Cantón Fourth Official: Pablo Megia Dávila

A celebration that began long before kick-off, from the very start of the day: because they are playing again, returning to do what they have always loved alongside the teammates with whom they shared emotions and suffering, sacrifices and joys, triumphs and disappointments. For the Inter Legends, it was as if time had never passed: it is like living in a sweet déjà-vu, as if time had never truly moved on at all. This is why the Corazón Classic match cannot be just another friendly: they are playing against Real Madrid, they are playing at the Bernabéu, changed in its form compared to the one they had experienced on unforgettable nights, yet still a giant of world football. It may not be the Champions League, and yet playing here against the Blancos has something different about it from everything else: you breathe in the mystique, the aura of a legendary club that has always written historic pages of European football, just as Inter has. It almost feels like living in a dream: experienced men, who have played hundreds of matches and won dozens of trophies, who still feel the emotion of walking out at the Bernabéu, welcomed by the roar of 75,000 jubilant supporters who packed the stands of the Madrid ground, some out of curiosity, some to greet and pay tribute to their childhood idols.

From the very start we noticed something new: Javier Zanetti did not play from the beginning and the Inter Legends captain was Esteban Cambiasso, a man whose life has become inextricably intertwined with Inter, Real Madrid and the Bernabéu.

It's a friendly, many years have passed since the boys last laced up their boots, and yet the desire to win and give everything on the pitch is exactly the same as ever. There are things that do not change and others that evolve: David Pizarro's magic left foot is the same as it always was, for example, with the Chilean distributing passes and footballing wisdom in midfield alongside Cuchu, just as Rodrigo Palacio's ability to drop deep to receive the ball and act as an attacking playmaker are qualities that cannot be taught but are innate and timeless. Then there are those who decide to do things differently, like Maicon, who on his first run down the flank signals to everyone, teammates and opponents alike, to bring the tempo down: as if to say there is no need to overdo it, our class alone is enough. Inter play well, manager Beppe Bergomi is satisfied with his 4-4-2, chosen to give his players a sense of security and allow for better rotation management. The supporters are amazed by Karagounis's play and by D'Ambrosio's inexhaustible determination, running the length of the pitch and constantly getting in behind Salgado, the legendary full-back of the Blancos' Galácticos era: Danilo creates chance after chance, comes close to scoring with a backheel in the box in the first half and in the closing stages even finds the net for the equaliser, ruled out for offside however on yet another perfectly weighted pass from Pek Pizarro.

Toldo saves Inter: a phrase written and heard for years by Nerazzurri supporters, a situation that occurs again in the 17th minute when the towering goalkeeper tips a dangerous shot from Pedro León over the bar. It will be Francesco's only save of the match, but in his role as head of the Legends Project, the former goalkeeper's contribution is fundamental. As is that of the Prophet Hernanes, the protagonist of the Nerazzurri goal in the 41st minute, which arrived in a more complicated situation than expected. The Brazilian scores from the rebound of a penalty won for a foul by Salgado on D'Ambrosio and celebrates with his trademark somersaults on the Bernabéu turf, a ground he had never experienced during his playing career.

The second half is less lively than the first: we could have anticipated that, the energy levels are lower than they once were, but the desire to win never changes. Real Madrid do not let up and look in every way to get back into the match, led by Pepe, a true Blanco commander, capable of playing as a forward too. The second half, however, is a long and glorious parade for the stars of both sides: Cambiasso is given an ovation by the entire Bernabéu as he leaves the pitch, Zanetti is greeted by a roar when he puts on the captain's armband after the break, but there are applauses for everyone, from Frey to Orlandoni, fresh from a wonderful season as goalkeeping coach of the First Team. Inter hold on, trying to protect their lead, with the defensive work of Lucio and Ranocchia as dependable as we have always known it to be, as if it were 2011 in a Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich. Real however find two identical goals with two crosses from the left deflected into the net with headers: the first is scored by Pepe, a monument of Madridismo as the decibels reached at the Bernabéu at the moment of his substitution make clear, then it falls to Barral in the 76th minute to score the winning goal. The great push from Inter, driven by the runs of Candreva, Pazzini and the indefatigable D'Ambrosio, is not enough.

Danilo's goal is spectacular, but ruled out for offside: it ends 2-1 to Real Madrid, but what matters is not the result, but the emotions experienced on a wonderful afternoon.