There are those matches that provincial teams struggle to imagine. Among these is the possibility of challenging the legendary Real Madrid, a privilege that instead fell to Reggina. It was 3 August 2026 (exactly twenty years ago) when the Blancos led by Fabio Capello faced Walter Mazzarri’s Amaranths in a test match that marked an era. Perhaps one of the highest points in the history of the Strait team in that extraordinary cycle that saw them play nine out of ten Serie A championships between 1999 and 2009.
Real Madrid full of stars
The match was played in Graz, 10,000 present and also a few hundred Amarnato fans who didn’t want to miss the appointment with history. It was summer, but it was raining. Real Madrid, although not at full strength, showed up with a veritable parade of stars: Roberto Carlos, Robinho, Beckham, Raul just to name a few. Ronaldo the Phenomenon and Fabio Cannavaro, fresh winner of the World Cup with Italy, future Ballon d’Or winner and just moved from Juventus to the Spaniards, were not there. That was the summer of Calciopoli, which would lead to a penalty for Reggian and then to an amazing comeback culminating with the great salvation from -11 in the top flight.
Great figure of Reggina
That match was almost a sign of destiny, in the sense that Reggina played a great draw. The star of Julio Cesar Leon shone, who in previous seasons had ended up on loan in the lower categories and it was no longer a given to rediscover his talent. Instead, perhaps that sensational performance in which he also put Roberto Carlos in difficulty, paved the way for a great season which led to his transfer in January to the ambitious Genoa who were playing in Serie B. Reggina lost with a signature signing, that of Raul Gonzales Blanco, Madrid legend. The Amaranths came close to equalizing several times and would have deserved it, also thanks to the push of Modesto and Mesto on the outside (in the photo contrasting with Gravesen). The post hit by Leon himself, a few minutes from the ninetieth minute, is still engraved in the memory of the Amaranth supporters. It would have been the perfect day. However, it remained an event to remember.