7 instances when ex-teammates were reunited on the pitch as opponents

They were teammates at one club but had to set their friendship aside when they faced each other in different colours. Friends, as it is popularly opined, help us cross this ocean of life with their fervent support and inspiration. Most of the times, friends come in phases. Each stage of life consists of a set of friends that lose touch once that phase is over. School, college, university, work... These are some of the stages of life where the friend circle isn't identical with one another. Sometimes, however, time weaves its magic and brings back old friends together, even if it is momentary. It's no different in football as we often see old teammates reunite and here are seven such instances.

#7 John Terry and Frank Lampard

Lampard and Terry faced off when the former left Chelsea and joined Manchester City on loan

Nobody, especially Chelsea fans, ever thought that they would see John Terry and Frank Lampard separated as it seemed like they were destined to end their footballing careers in the club where they made their names. However, that wasn’t to be as Frank Lampard left the Blues for MLS club New York City.

Or at least that is what it was supposed to be. After signing with New York City, however, he was loaned back to the Premiership, but this time he plied his trade in a lighter blue jersey – that of Manchester City’s.

And when the Chelsea fans saw their sweetheart play against them – and also score the equaliser in the final minutes and earn City a point at the Etihad – it hurt.

#6 Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry

Vieira and Henry were reunited when Juventus played Arsenal in the Champions League in 2006

Once upon a time, Arsenal were the hardest team to beat in the Premier League. They were so good that they went an entire season unbeaten and were known as the Invincibles. The core members of that team were Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira and once the latter left the club, it was the beginning of years of mediocrity.

The Frenchmen were once again reunited, however, as Arsenal took on Italian giants Juventus in the Champions League. Patrick Vieira was running the midfield engine of the Old Lady and Thierry Henry was still banging goals for fun with the Gunners.

In the end, it was the forward that had the last laugh as Arsenal qualified for the semi-final of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi

Ibrahimovic and Messi also faced off in 2014 when PSG played Barcelona in the Champions League

Ibrahimovic had made his opinion on Barcelona and then-coach Pep Guardiola absolutely clear in his autobiography, so facing his former club at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of the quarter-final of the 2012/13 season wasn’t much of a nostalgic moment for him. To be fair, though, he is Zlatan and Zlatan has no place in his heart for sentiment.

However, he made another thing clear: his fondness for Lionel Messi, labelling him a “cool” guy and acknowledging his elite-level abilities as a footballer. So if he was looking forward to anything, it was patching up with the Argentine once again.

Both of them had a terrific game as they found their names on the scoresheet and it was an assist from the Swede that allowed Matuidi to score the equalizer in the dying minutes of the game.

#4 Jeremy Toulalan and Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema also faced Jeremy Toulalan when Real Madrid played Lyon

When they were together at Lyon, they entwined magic and brought utmost delight to the hearts of the fans. As that brilliant Lyon team got scavenged by other European giants, the same fans could do nothing but live with its glorious memories.

And those memories blazed to life when these two Frenchmen faced each other as rivals when Lyon took on Real Madrid at the Stade de Gerland in the first leg of a Champions League round of 16 clash in the 2009/10 season.

The game was one to forget for the returning sweetheart of Lyon as his Madrid lost to the French club 1-0 after Jean Maloun scored the only goal of the game.

#3 Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere

Fabregas and Wilshere – From friends to London rivals

Cesc Fabregas still holds a special place in the hearts of many Gooners, despite leaving in controversial circumstances. When he departed, the man that was touted to take over the vacancy left by him was none other than Jack Wilshere.

The Englishmen wowed the world at a mere age of 18 when he left many viewers astounded with his wonderful display against Barcelona in a Champions League clash in 2011 at the Emirates. However, it has been somewhat of a disappointing progress rate for both these players as the youngster was failed by many injuries and the Spaniard had an average spell with the Catalans.

Back in the Premiership now, Fabregas represents Arsenal’s rivals Chelsea – a sight that causes a little pain in the hearts of Gooners. And even more so when he took on the pitch last season to face the club that molded him into the player that he is today.

He also faced his supposed successor and absolutely bossed him in the midfield battle, showing him how it is supposed to be done.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney

Rooney went head-to-head when Manchester United played Real Madrid in the Champions League

The Portuguese and the Englishman might have had their differences in the 2006 World Cup, but what can’t be denied is the fact that these two are great friends and seeing them together on the pitch reflects that.

As Manchester United traveled to Spain to take on La Liga giants Real Madrid, one could almost smell the scent of nostalgia that the Red Devils fans exuded. Nostalgia along with an amusing amalgamation of hope and despair – the latter for not seeing them in the same shirt and the former for watching them defend the same crest in the future.

In the end, the visitors left the pitch with heads held high as they were the better team on the night, finishing 1-1 despite wasting 3 glorious chances to score, but the Portuguese was better than his former team-mate.

#1 Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard

Gerrard and Suarez were reunited when LA Galaxy played Barcelona

The pillars of the Liverpool team that made its best finish in the Premier League in recent history, Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard, no longer play in the club that made them renowned for their astute abilities as footballers.

While Luis Suarez moved to Barcelona last summer, Steven Gerrard moved to the MLS this summer after his contract wasn’t extended. However, time brought them together when Barcelona played LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl as a part of the pre-season schedule.

Both these Liverpool icons were reunited, but in different shirts – something that might have made Liverpool fans nostalgic and, at the same time, a little sad. Ultimately, the Uruguayan had the last laugh as he scored the first goal of the game that ended 2-1 in favour of the Catalans.