Kolkata’s famous Salt Lake Stadium is all set to host a blockbuster match between Real Madrid Legends and Barcelona Legends on November 25. The famous venue recently played host to arguably the biggest match in Indian football history as the Blue Tigers faced five-time world champion Brazil.
Almost a month later, the fans will again witness a mouth-watering encounter featuring some of football’s biggest names. The exhibition match was confirmed by Bengal’s sports minister on social media, leaving the fans delighted.
The official squads for the El Clasico haven’t been announced, but several big names, including Luis Figo, Carles Puyol and Iker Casillas, are expected to feature in the contest.
Meanwhile, this will be the second time that the Spanish giants will feature in an exhibition match in India. Last year, the two teams clashed at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, where Real Madrid Legends won 2-0, courtesy of goals by Fernando Morientes and David Barral. The two sides also met earlier this year in Miami, playing out a 1-1 draw.
Barcelona will return to Kolkata for the first time since 2018 when they faced India’s Mohun Bagan, a game they won 6-0, with Javier Saviola, Roger Garcia, Pedro Landi, Jari Litmanen and Jofre Mateu scoring for the side.
Kolkata’s Rich Football Legacy
The upcoming El Clasico will add another chapter to Kolkata’s rich footballing legacy. Over the years, the city has hosted some of the biggest names in football. One of the most notable names that the city hosted was Brazilian legend Pele, who led New York Cosmos against Mohun Bagan at the Eden Gardens in 1977.
German giants Bayern Munich also visited Kolkata in 2008, playing a friendly match against Mohun Bagan.
In 2011, Kolkata hosted Lionel Messi’s only appearance as a player when Argentina football team faced Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium. Recently, the city hosted Brazil and two-time World Champion Uruguay, who faced India in international friendlies.