A special event took place in Madrid for members of the Inter Clubs of Madrid and Barcelona, alongside a group from Italy, ahead of the Corazón Classic Match. Approximately 60 supporters had the opportunity to meet Nerazzurri Legends who arrived in the Spanish capital to participate in the charity fixture against Real Madrid Leyendas.
The exclusive meet-and-greet was held at a venue in the heart of Madrid. Attendees were able to interact with Inter’s Legends, take photographs, and collect autographs. During the gathering, Inter President and CEO Giuseppe Marotta presented the Inter Clubs of Madrid and Barcelona with a commemorative pin collection, acknowledging their dedication and support.
This occasion aimed to enhance the Corazón Classic experience for the fans, underscoring the significant presence of Nerazzurri supporters in Spain through the extensive Inter Club network. This network fosters a strong connection built on a shared passion for the club’s colours, extending beyond Italy‘s borders.
Previous Encounter and Notable Players
The upcoming June 13 Corazón Classic Match will not be the first time Inter Legends have faced Real Madrid Leyendas. The two teams previously met in the 2014 edition of the charity match, which concluded in a 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu. This result was particularly notable as Real Madrid Leyendas had won every prior edition of the event.
Following the draw, both sides agreed to share the title instead of proceeding with a penalty shootout, recognizing Inter as the first visiting team to avoid defeat. The 2014 match featured several legendary players from both clubs, including those who had represented both Inter and Real Madrid, such as Luis Figo and Ivan Zamorano.
Coached by Walter Zenga, Inter managed to come back from behind twice in the 2014 game. Zidane initially opened the scoring for Real Madrid, but Javier Zanetti equalized with a goal. Ivan Pérez then restored Madrid’s lead before Lambros Choutos headed in the equalizer, resulting in the 2-2 scoreline.
The Real Madrid Leyendas squad for the 2014 match included players like Buyo, Salgado, Pavon, Zidane, Hierro, Zamorano, Santillana, Figo, Guti, Karembeu, and Fernando Sanz. Substitutes included Contreras, Garcia Cortes, Sabido, Salguero, Butragueno, Ivan Perez, Velasco, Morientes, Esnaider, Amavisca, and Solari. The team was coached by Camacho, Amancio, and Geni.
The Inter Legends team in 2014 featured Toldo, Cordoba, J. Zanetti, Galante, Carbone, D. Baggio, Zé Maria, Dabo, Paganin, Suazo, and Conceicao. Substitutes included Pagliuca, Djorkaeff, Figo, Berti, Zamorano, Beccalossi, Dacourt, C. Zanetti, Fresi, Manicone, Milanese, Di Napoli, Centofanti, Bianchi, and Choutos. The coach for Inter Legends was Walter Zenga.
Anticipation for the Upcoming Match
Macedonian football legend Goran Pandev is set to participate in the upcoming charity match in Madrid, where legends of Inter and Real Madrid will compete. This traditional Corazón Classic Match will once again bring former stars of these two European clubs onto the field to relive their careers’ glory days.
Pandev will play for Inter alongside several former stars of the Milan club, including Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Antonio Candreva, Maicon, Lucio, Giampaolo Pacini, Rodrigo Palacio, and David Suazo. The team will be led by the legendary Giuseppe Bergomi, with former goalkeeper Francesco Toldo also part of the expedition.
For Pandev, playing at the Santiago Bernabéu will evoke special memories, as it was at this stadium in 2010 that he was part of the Inter generation, led by Jose Mourinho, that won the Champions League title, marking a significant moment in the club’s history. The Corazón Classic Match is scheduled for June 13.
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Source: onefootball.com
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