The legends of Real Madrid defeated those of Barcelona 2-0 in an exhibition match held last Saturday at the National Stadium in San José, Costa Rica. Guti, with a direct free kick goal, and Ronaldinho, with his usual magic, were the standout players of the match, which saw around 30,000 spectators in attendance. The Madrid team, which dominated much of the game, took the lead in the 24th minute: following a corner taken by Rubén de la Red, Antonio Núñez headed the ball into the net, opening the scoring. Shortly after, in the 27th minute, Guti, who was the maestro of Real Madrid's midfield during the first half, was fouled at the edge of the area. The player himself took the free kick and scored a stunning goal, earning applause from the crowd and sealing the final score at 2-0. On the Barcelona side, which featured names like Carles Puyol, Rivaldo, and the Portuguese Vítor Baía in goal, it was Ronaldinho Gaúcho who stood out the most. The Brazilian star delighted fans with several technical displays and assists, but none of his brilliant plays resulted in a goal. In the second half, with the lead on the scoreboard, Real Madrid pulled back their lines, with Fernando Sanz and Pepe commanding the defense and Claude Makélélé closing down the midfield, making it difficult for Javier Saviola to make an impact. Barcelona tried to respond, with Ronaldinho taking control of the game, supported by Rivaldo, Gaizka Mendieta, and the speed of Giuly and Nolito on the wings. However, Iker Casillas proved to be impenetrable in the Madrid goal, denying Nolito a goal on two occasions. Both Casillas and Ronaldinho received a standing ovation from the crowd when substituted, in recognition of their performances. Despite the friendly nature of the match, the eternal rivalry between the two clubs was evident, with some tougher tackles from both sides, featuring Iván Campo and Pepe from Real Madrid, and Carles Puyol from the Catalan side.
Costa Rica The Real Madrid remains central to this story.
Costa Rica The Real Madrid remains central to this story.
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