Manchester United Legends 2-2 Barça Legends: All square in the Theatre of Dreams

The Barça Legends and Manchester United Legends have drawn 2-2 in the second of two games between the teams (the previous one at the Camp Nou ended 3-1 to the Red Devils.

The likes of Edgar Davids, Eric Abidal, Gaizka Mendieta and Patrick Kluivert showed they have not lost any of the class against a home side featuring such memorable names as Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Dwight Yorke and Edwin Van der Sar.

The game was preceded by a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the attcks in Manchester, Barcelona and Cambrils.

The first major piece of action came when Frederic Dehú brought down Jesper Blomquist in the area and Van Nistelrooy opened the scoring from the spot.

Moments later, his compatriot Davids skimmed the United post following a fine solo run and another Dutchman, Kluivert, almost stunned Van Der Sar with a shot from the halfway line.

Luis García changes the game

After Barça coach Albert Ferrer sent on Luis García, the game’s dynamic changed. Andoni Goikoetxea hit the post and Mendieta came close too. But just as the Catalans were well and truly on top, Danny Webber skipped round the back of the Barça defence and produced a classy finish to beat Jesus Angoy.

Yorke for United and García for FCB had the best early chances after the break, before the visitors finally got off the mark when Simão Sabrosa hit the post and García converted the rebound.

Mendieta brings justíce

Two minutes later, some fine combination football was capped by Mendieta finding himself through on his own and dribbling home in style. .

Both teams pushed hard for the win, but to no avail, and it all ended with Sir Bobby Charlton presenting Sergi Barjuán with the trophy in a fine display of  sportmanship and brotherhood, considering it had actually been the English club that had won the two legs on aggregate.