Barcelona Legends 1-3 Manchester United Legends: Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and Dwight Yorke earn victory for Red Devils heroes at the Nou Camp against side featuring Rivaldo and Ronaldinho

  • Jesper Blomqvist handed Manchester United Legends lead after 14 minutes at Nou Camp from close range
  • Karel Poborsky doubled lead after 57 minutes with deflected effort following pull back by Ji-Sung Park
  • Dwight Yorke finished superbly from 20 yards to round off an excellent evening's work for United
  • Frederic Dehu earned a late consolation as United take lead into second leg at Old Trafford on September 2  

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Manchester United partied like it was 1999 as the Red Devils legends defeated Barcelona in a charity match at the Nou Camp on Friday.

Despite Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Edgar Davids and Patrick Kluivert gracing the pitch once again for the Catalans, it was the men from Manchester who triumphed, goals from Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and Dwight Yorke firing them to a 3-1 win.

Blomqvist and Poborsky netted either side of half-time before United captain Dwight Yorke, who famously scored here on the way to the Treble in 1999, iced the cake with a fine finish from outside the box. Frederic Dehu scored a consolation for the home side with the last kick of the game.


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World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho was the major attraction for the Barcelona against Manchester United game

World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho was the major attraction for the Barcelona against Manchester United game

He showed he still has some of his old tricks and flicks, as well as a knack for taking a dangerous free kick and corner

He showed he still has some of his old tricks and flicks, as well as a knack for taking a dangerous free kick and corner

Ronaldinho's former Brazil and Barcelona team-mate, Rivaldo, also started and played up front for the Catalan giants

Ronaldinho's former Brazil and Barcelona team-mate, Rivaldo, also started and played up front for the Catalan giants

However it was United who won the game 3-1 with goals from Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and Dwight Yorke (centre)

However it was United who won the game 3-1 with goals from Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and Dwight Yorke (centre)

It was a chastening evening for the Barcelona Legends, who got a late consolation through defender Frederic Dehu

It was a chastening evening for the Barcelona Legends, who got a late consolation through defender Frederic Dehu

At the end of the game, 37-year-old Ronaldinho was the very popular choice as man of the match for the fixture

At the end of the game, 37-year-old Ronaldinho was the very popular choice as man of the match for the fixture

MATCH FACTS 

Barcelona Legends: Angoy (Guzman 72), Nadal (Andersson 46), Belletti (Dehu 33), Edmilson (Amor 67), Goiko (Juan Carlos 72), Mendieta (Popescu 56), Davids (Estebaranz 82), Rivaldo (Carerras 72), Giuly (Kluivert 11), Simao (Ezquerro 46, Salinas 84), Ronaldinho

Goal: Dehu 90 

Manager: Jose Mari Bakero

Manchester United Legends: Van Der Gouw (Pilkington 46), Brown, Johnsen (Martin 53), Silvestre, Park, Poborsky (Thornley 65), Smith, Djordjic (Blackmore 73), Blomqvist (Beardsmore 73), Yorke, Saha (Webber 56)

Goals: Blomqvist 14, Poborsky 57, Yorke 77

Manager: Andy Ritchie

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It didn't take long for the first chance of the match, courtesy of a Barcelona free-kick inside three minutes. Ronaldinho's eyes lit up as he lined it up from 20 yards and the Brazilian struck it well but Raymond Van der Gouw was up to the task, diving to his left to push it behind.

It was an early glimpse of Ronaldinho's danger, a theme that would go on to dominate the rest of the game; the 37-year-old was clearly up for it and was justly rewarded by being named Deezer Man of the Match, much to the crowd's delight.

Two minutes later, Manchester United, from nowhere, took the lead. Scorers Yorke, Blomqvist and Poborsky traded passes in the Barcelona box and, after having a shot cleared off the line, the ball fell to Blomqvist, who squeezed his shot past the goalkeeper.

Their combined age might be 136, and they certainly lack the pace and fitness of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but the trio of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Davids were causing United plenty of problems. 

The former Brazil team-mates and the Dutchman entertained with some lovely interplay, the kind of tiki taka football the fans here have grown expected to see when they come to the Nou Camp.

Barca weren't without their chances - Rivaldo was denied by the linesman's flag after Juliano Beletti struck the side netting - but United were causing plenty of problems, too. 

Angoy found himself in no man's land after coming off his line, but with the goalkeeper madly scrambling back, Poborsky's attempt to find an unmarked Yorke at the back post was headed clear.

In hindsight he should have probably rolled the ball into the empty net, but United still took a 1-0 lead into half-time as fans headed into the concourse to enjoy a beer in the late afternoon sun, the carnival-like atmosphere building. 

Ronaldinho was widely regarded as the world's best player when he featured at Barcelona and was the best on the pitch here

Ronaldinho was widely regarded as the world's best player when he featured at Barcelona and was the best on the pitch here

Rivaldo shows he still has some pace and skill left in his legs, while under close watch from Mikael Silvestre and Alan Smith

Rivaldo shows he still has some pace and skill left in his legs, while under close watch from Mikael Silvestre and Alan Smith

Ronaldinho and Rivaldo plot a free-kick routine while the United wall featuring Blomqvist and Poborsky watch on

Ronaldinho and Rivaldo plot a free-kick routine while the United wall featuring Blomqvist and Poborsky watch on

Edgar Davids attempts one of his trademark passes from the centre of midfield under pressure from Ji-Sung Park

Edgar Davids attempts one of his trademark passes from the centre of midfield under pressure from Ji-Sung Park

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur star and Holland international Davids looked the same as in his heyday with sunglasses and dreadlocks

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur star and Holland international Davids looked the same as in his heyday with sunglasses and dreadlocks

https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/881094037759041536

If Blomqvist was feeling good about his goal, Ronaldinho soon had him crashing back down to earth. Holding off his opponent in the centre circle, the playmaker flicked the ball through Blomqvist's legs, leaving the Treble winner in a tangle and tipping himself over as the Nou Camp roared with delight. It wasn't the first time they had seen that from the No 10.

United Legends weren't fashioning many chances, but when they did they made them count, and on 57 minutes Poborsky doubled their lead. The industrial Park, living up to his 'Three Lung Park' nickname, got free down the right and squared the ball for the Czech, whose side-footed finish took a deflection past a helpless Angoy.

The game was getting away from Barcelona and Rivaldo really ought to have pulled a goal back after being played in by Ronaldinho (who else?), but he could only pull his shot wide from a tight angle.

On 77 minutes, United captain Yorke put the result beyond doubt with a fierce drive from outside the box that cannoned in off the post.

Dehu did eventually give the locals something to cheer about with a goal from the last kick of the game, dribbling into the box and poking it past Van der Gouw, but it was mere consolation. A win for United, but the job isn't done yet as the teams return for the second leg at Old Trafford on September 2.

Smith, a former England international now at Notts County, attempts to rob the ball back from Simao in a tight contest

Smith, a former England international now at Notts County, attempts to rob the ball back from Simao in a tight contest

Ronaldinho was constantly the star of the show, with the excitement levels notably rising whenever he got on the ball

Ronaldinho was constantly the star of the show, with the excitement levels notably rising whenever he got on the ball

Rivaldo grimaces as another opening is cut out by United keeper Kevin Pilkington as they dominated without reward

Rivaldo grimaces as another opening is cut out by United keeper Kevin Pilkington as they dominated without reward

Pilkington - while hardly the most legendary United name - did do the shirt proud with a good second-half save

Pilkington - while hardly the most legendary United name - did do the shirt proud with a good second-half save

United line up their defence in an attempt to stifle Ronaldinho - while he had his moments, it was United who earned the win

United line up their defence in an attempt to stifle Ronaldinho - while he had his moments, it was United who earned the win

Karel Poborsky rises highest to meet a header, under challenge from former Holland and Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert

Karel Poborsky rises highest to meet a header, under challenge from former Holland and Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert

Park and Davids face off in a battle of two midfielders who, even now, never seem to run out of energy on the pitch

Park and Davids face off in a battle of two midfielders who, even now, never seem to run out of energy on the pitch

While the United line-up featured significantly fewer well known names than Barca, they took their chances when they came

While the United line-up featured significantly fewer well known names than Barca, they took their chances when they came

Ronaldinho posted a team selfie to his Twitter page before the game - can you name all the famous footballing faces?

Ronaldinho posted a team selfie to his Twitter page before the game - can you name all the famous footballing faces?

Ronaldinho gets a pre-match team talk from Barcelona legends coach Jose Mari Bakero in the Nou Camp dressing room

Ronaldinho gets a pre-match team talk from Barcelona legends coach Jose Mari Bakero in the Nou Camp dressing room

Former Barcelona midfielder  Davids returned to his former home stadium to play in the charity game for a local hospital

Former Barcelona midfielder Davids returned to his former home stadium to play in the charity game for a local hospital

Despite being on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat, the familiar toothy smile never left the face of Ronaldinho

Despite being on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat, the familiar toothy smile never left the face of Ronaldinho

While the Nou Camp was far from full, around 30,000 fans were present in the Friday evening sunshine for the legends game

While the Nou Camp was far from full, around 30,000 fans were present in the Friday evening sunshine for the legends game

 

The match was sponsored by global music streaming service Deezer.

Manchester United Legends are taking on the Barca Legends once again in the return leg to take place at Old Trafford on 2nd September. Tickets on sale now at manutd.com/legendsareback.

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