A real gem. On April 8, 2003, in the Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Manchester United by Sir Alex Ferguson, Luis Figo scored a goal that became famous, an accomplishment full of finesse. Fabien Barthez, established in the Red Devils cages, probably remembers it still.
A classy gesture
This first leg, played at the Santiago Bernabéu, was of particular importance for the Merengue. Defending champions, they had to avoid being surprised at home by Ruud Van Nistelrooy's teammates. Because at Old Trafford, in the return match, the task was going to look complicated. Fortunately for them, Figo was at the top of his game that day. From the 12th minute of play, the Portuguese was going to put his team into orbit. In possession of the ball on the left side, close to the penalty area, the attacking midfielder serves Zinedine Zidane in the center. The Frenchman fixes the defense and finds his teammate on his left. It is at this precise moment that Figo shows class. He knows what he will do before he even receives the ball. He turns towards the opposing cages and caresses the leather from the inside of the right foot. The effect is terrible.
>> READ ALSO - Foot nostalgia: Rivaldo and the bicycle of victory with Barça
A shot ... or a center?
The balloon is rising. At first glance, he seems to be heading towards a teammate of the Portuguese player. In reality, he takes the direction of the Mancunian cages. The tricolor goalkeeper anticipates the center and moves to better position himself. He realizes, at the last moment, that he was deceived by the atypical trajectory of the swelling. There is nothing he can do. The ball enters the small net. Was it a voluntary fire? A center ? Doubt is still allowed. One thing is certain, however: Figo opened the scoring. Real Madrid will win 3 goals to 1, thanks to a double from Raul. Manchester United will reduce the brand through Ruud Van Nistelrooy. In the second leg, Sir Alex Ferguson's men won the match (4-3), but it was the Merengues who reached the semi-finals. They will face Juventus Turin and will be eliminated (2-1, 1-3).
Read also
- Foot Nostalgia: the Ronaldinho festival against Guingamp in 2003
- Foot Nostalgia: Maradona and the goal of humiliation in the Clasico Real-Barça
- Foot Nostalgia: the day Cruyff revolutionized penalties
- Foot Nostalgia: from 0-4 to 5-4, the historic rise of Marseille-Montpellier
