Close clásico in Qatar (5-5)

Despite playing well, the Agrupació Barça Jugadors missed out on victory in the Classic Legends Match yesterday in Doha (Qatar). The match ended 5-5, but the FC Barcelona old boys lost on penalties in a game that brought together several legends from both clubs. Barça’s goalscorers were Fernando Couto (2), Michael Reiziger and Bolo Zenden (2). It was the first time the FCB veterans had included so many international stars from the past, including Ronald de Boer, Bolo Zenden, Jari Litmanen, Vitor Baía and Fernando Couto. Also in the side were Goiko, Mendieta, Milla, Nadal, Felip and Sánchez Jara. Thomas Christiansen was unable to take part because he suffered an injury in the warm-up.

The venue was the Aspire Dome, and the game was watched by 1,500 spectators as part of Aspire4Sport 2012, a sports and business forum in the Qatari capital, this game being one of the chief attractions. On the same day there was a presentation press conference attended by the president of the FCB Veterans, Ramon Alfonseda, and players Ronald de Boer and Bolo Zenden. The Barça expedition is expected to return to Barcelona Airport at 07.20 on Thursday morning.