Bale, Neymar could be the keys of ‘El Clasico’
By Dani Garcia
Behind Ronaldo’s and Messi’s shadows, two players could be the key of ‘El Clasico’ next Sunday in Barcelona: Gareth Bale and Neymar Jr. They both have the responsibility of taking a step forward for their teams.
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The Welshman looks to get himself back after Levante’s game past Sunday when he scored two goals. Bale’s comeback was not only in the offensive side of the pitch but he also executed well defensive tasks. The issue for many Real Madrid fans in Santiago Bernabeu has been Bale’s defensive work; the right wing has heard boos several times because Madrid fans are always demanding about the players performance on the pitch, they need to see sacrifice.
There have also been rumors about his possible depart from Madrid.
For that reason, it has been reported that Gareth Bale has been spending an extra half-hour every training session last weeks with Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant, Paul Clement. They worked the defensive area but, specifically, how to give the former Tottenham player better goalscoring positions. This season, Bale has barely been a threat from the right wing position and we haven’t seen so much one of his powerful weapons: his speed.
It looks Clement’s work with Bale on the training ground is paying off. He gave an improved performance against Levante just one week before the visit to the greatest rival. The 25-year-old wants to become the decisive player he was last season (remembering that fabulous goal in the last minutes of La Copa final) in this critical game for Real Madrid against FC Barcelona. Gareth Bale stats in La Liga this season: 25 games, 12 goals, 87 shots and 5 assists.
The Brazilian Neymar Jr. lives currently a small creative block but this season is absolutely perfect for him. His numbers in La Liga: 23 games, 17 goals, 63 shots and 4 assists. He is electrical and destabilizes teams easily, the forward has already scored a goal in ‘El Clasico’ and he is part of the most successful trio of goal scorers in Europe with Messi and Luis Suarez. After a thick first season in Nou Camp, Neymar is showing the fluency and beauty of his football.
The 23-year-old is fully focus in Sunday’s game after a small irritation last Saturday in Eibar when Luis Enrique decided to replace him. Neymar enjoyed last week 4-day vacation in Brazil due to family matters thanks to Barcelona’s coach permission. ‘Barça’ has to defend the leadership of La Liga this Sunday after Madrid’s collapse last three weeks; ‘Los Blancos’ wasted a 4-point lead with a draw at home against Villarreal and a lost in Bilbao.