(Live here with football legends) - The Barcelona legends team finished their wonderful journey in Israel this weekend (Thursday, September 7.9.2023, XNUMX) at the "Sami Ofer" stadium in Haifa, doing so in an exciting and electrifying football atmosphere in a match against the past legends of Maccabi Haifa.
The Catalans, who were not just scenery for the eyes of an audience of 25,000 enthusiastic fans, both adults and children, including the green Maccabi Haifa fans, and also the Blaugrana fans, presented wonderful football and gave a great show to the crowd, and at the same time a great show and show on the grass, when at the end of the 80 minutes of the game, the stars of the legends of Barcelona descend from the grass With their upper hand in an impressive and beautiful victory result of 5:1 for Barcelona. It was an evening full of enjoyment from brilliant and huge names of the past from Barcelona and not only, but also brilliant and huge names of the past from Maccabi Haifa, the audience had perfect enjoyment from the level of play and a beautiful and impressive display.
From the start of the game, the atmosphere in "Sami Ofer" was magical and electrifying when many legends of the past, Barcelona stars played on the lawn, including Ronaldinho, who won with Barcelona the Champions League, two Spanish championships and the Super Cup. With Brazil he lifted the World Cup in 2002, also won the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. Along the way he won every possible personal title, starting with the footballer of the year in the world, the Ballon d'Or and the outstanding foreigner in the Spanish league, Rivaldo, Javier Saviola, the Frenchman Ludovic Joly, Bojan Krkic, Andoni Goikocea and also Giuliano Baletti who scored the winning goal for Barcelona in the final The Champions League in 2006, Sergi Brejoan, Frederic Dehu, Xavi Guzman, Jesus Angui and Joffre Matteo and many more.
On the Israeli side, the green of Maccabi Haifa, you could see names like Reuven Atar (captain), Yaniv Katan, Zahi Armali, Nir Davidovitch, Abbas Suan, Gustavo Bukoli, Moshe Glam, Rafi Osamu, Eyal Mashomer, Zadok Malka, Ayalon Shwegar, Haim Silves, Eyal Mashomer, Eric Benado, Shlomi Arbeitman, Eliran Elkayam, Avishi Zhanno, Rafi Osamo, Ofer Shatrit, Rafi Cohen the striker, Rafi Cohen the goalkeeper, Itai Mordechai, Avraham Avokert, Assi Abrahami, Ofer Shatrit, goalkeeper Kobi Buskila, Avishi Jano, Zabar Daniel, Viam Amasha, Idan Tal, and Alon Mizrahi. Meanwhile, it should be noted that Maccabi Haifa was coached on the lines by its three former players Zion Merili, Eitan Aharoni and Moshe Selekter. The Maccabi Haifa veterans association is headed by the veteran president, the 87-year-old former player Avraham Manchel, the team's chairman is the former player Oded Belosh, and the team's veteran director is Aryeh Barzilai, as well as the team's masseuse and physiotherapist is the veteran and dedicated Itzik Abergi 'To.
In the 8th minute of the game it was actually the green captain Reuven Atar who gave the greens a 0:1 lead with a spectacular and accurate bomb kick - a mighty goal between the crossbars of the Catalan goalkeeper and the crowd of thousands in "Sami Ofer" in the sky. The advantage of the greens was maintained until the 47th minute when in the attack Roberto Trasora hands the ball to Javier Saviola and subdues the goalkeeper Rafi Cohen. The Spaniards continued to dominate the game and in the 59th minute it was Ludvik Joly who was fouled in the box and Ronaldinho kicked accurately from the penalty spot and beat Kobi Buskila, Haifa's goalkeeper. Jolly, in the 67th minute kicks hard out of the air into the crossbars of the greens.
7 minutes later, Boyan Krkic handed the ball to Saviola who easily passes the Haifa defense and kicks straight into the net and scores Barcelona's 1:4. Towards the end of the game in the 77th minute, Krkic scored another penalty and this seals and closes the result in an impressive and beautiful victory of 5:1 to Barcelona and the story of this great evening of football from the legends ended for him.
Since Yaniv Ketan retired from football 20 years ago, no player has played for Maccabi Haifa with the number 20 on his back. Last night, at the end of the game, he said with great excitement: "I can't hide my excitement, I came to Maccabi Haifa when I was a child at the age of 8 with many dreams, it's very exciting to wear the green uniform of Maccabi Haifa again in Sami Ofer and in front of me the crowd of thousands of our home fans, I'm here and I arrive at the field As a fan and as a commentator, but playing on the grass is definitely something completely different that I will remember forever."
The Maccabi Haifa star who played with the number 10 on his back, Reuven Atar (54 years old), also said: "To be honest, for several nights I haven't slept at night before this game, I dreamed again about this moment that I will step on the grass at Sami Ofer, of course it is A very exciting moment that will remain in my memory. I'm happy that I played with my number 10 shirt, and happy that this big crowd and the green still remember us, the past veterans of Maccabi Haifa respect their past players, and also those who don't play, and that's what's most exciting. To play against the stars of Barcelona when all the time I only saw them on TV, it's a huge excitement. This game is an experience of a lifetime and thanks to all the organizers who worked hard for its honorable and beautiful success. I have no doubt that Liniv Ketan certainly has a place to play in any team today."
The one who starred like a young boy on the grass in "Sami Ofer" was the giant star of Barcelona Ronaldinho (43 years old) who said: "This is not my first time playing for you here in Haifa, I am always happy for every opportunity I get to come here to Haifa, You always receive me nicely, with a lot of warmth and love and that makes me very happy, it's no secret that I feel like at home here, thank you all."
Another huge Barcelona star who also starred on the field, Rivaldo (51 years old) said: "I am very excited to return to Israel and here to Haifa. The Maccabi Haifa football club is one of the biggest in Israel, I stopped playing active football at the age of 43, we don't like lose any game!"
At the end of the game, Giuliano Baletti, who scored the winning goal for Barcelona in the Champions League final in 2006, also said: "We traveled these two days in your beautiful city Haifa, and I am very happy to be here. The atmosphere on the field was excellent. It was difficult for us to play game after game and this after 48 hours when we played earlier against Maccabi Tel Aviv, but as always we did our best and gave a performance to all the audience that came, and we are sure that they also enjoyed themselves."
The Maccabi Haifa legends team started the game: goalkeeper Nir Davidovich, captain Reuven Atar, Yaniv Katan, Alon Mizrahi, Zahi Armali, Avishi Zhanno, Eric Benado, Eliran Elkayam, Eyal Mashomer, Abbas Suan, Idan Tal, Gustavo Bukoli, Wiam Amasha , while during the entire game for the entire 80 minutes of the game the goalkeeper Rafi Cohen, the goalkeeper Kobi Buskila, Assi Abrahami, Daniel Zabar, Shlomi Arbeitman, Zadok Malka, Avraham Avokert, the striker Rafi Cohen, Itai Mordechai, Haim Silves, Rafi Osamo, Moshe Glam and Ofer a bill
The Barcelona legends started the game: Xavi Guzman, Andoni Ruiquatexa, Federic Dao, Fernando Navarro, Sergi Barjuan, Roberto Trashorses, Giuffra Matteo, Roger Garcia, Giovanni da Silva, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. Also partnered during the game: Jesus Angui, Jordi Lopes, Juan Carlos Rodríguez, Francesco Coco, Ludovic Giuli, Bojan Krkic and Giuliano Baletti and Javier Saviola. The coach of the Catalans on the lines Albert Ferrer.
All the best to Maccabi Haifa. A good and blessed autograph final for you.
The crushing boredom.
Well done Maccabi Haifa.