SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

NewNew facesfaces addadd freshfresh twisttwist toto ClasicoClasico

MADRID: With the world’s biggest stars and two richest their impact since arriving in Spain. Barcelona wisely got their ropean football as Barcelona currently lead Madrid by three clubs on show, it is no surprise that when Barcelona and Real business done early with Neymar signed before last season points atop La Liga. Madrid meet the world stops to take notice. In recent years had even finished. The Brazilian then went on to shine for his The departures of and Jose Mourinho may though the fixture has become less of a treat with 17 meet- country at the Confederations Cup and arrived in the Catalan have stolen some of the star dust away from the touchline, ings between the two in the past three seasons alone. How- capital for the new season full of confidence. but the new men in charge have embarked upon an intrigu- ever, on the brink of their first clash this season today there is Indeed, Neymar has already helped lift some of the pres- ing process of evolving the style of their sides. Martino wants an excitement and freshness brought by the addition of new sure on Messi with three goals and six assists in just nine starts. a more direct Barcelona, not so obsessed with tiki-taka foot- cast members to the drama that El Clasico almost never fails Bale, by contrast, had to wait until transfer deadline day to be ball, whilst Ancelotti has tried quite the opposite in turning to deliver. presented at the Bernabeu and has paid for his lack Madrid from a supreme counter-attacking outfit into a more The protagonists remain the same. and Cris- of a pre-season with a series of niggling muscle injuries that possession based side. tiano Ronaldo have dominated this fixture as they have prac- have hampered his participation so far. The Welshman has Whilst both have enjoyed a relatively easy ride from press tically all others since the Portuguese joined the four-time played just 170 minutes across five appearances, starting and and fans alike in their first few months, the lack of criticism World Player of the Year in Spain four years ago. Should Messi scoring just the once. has been conditioned by good results. Madrid’s derby defeat find the net at the today he would surpass Madrid Despite a completely ineffective cameo appearance as a to Atletico Madrid—the only game either has lost this sea- legend and honorary president Alfredo di Stefano as the all- substitute in Real’s 2-1 win over Juventus on Wednesday, Ma- son—was met with a barrage of questions over Real’s late time leading scorer in meetings between the two. Ronaldo, drid boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted that Bale is now ready to start sale of Mesut Ozil in the transfer window, supposedly with meanwhile, is soon catching up with Messi having scored a match following a thigh problem. The Camp Nou match is Ancelotti’s blessing. Meanwhile, Martino has found out that seven times in the last six Clasicos in which he has started. also a big test for Ancelotti and Barca boss Gerardo Martino even winning isn’t always enough in Catalonia as his changes However, both sides have plumped their hopes on a sec- as they too face up to their first taste of the unique pressures a were criticized after Barca failed to have more possession ond superstar to supplement the undoubted best two players Clasico brings. Ancelotti brings a far greater wealth of experi- than the opposition for the first time in five years against in the world. The manner in which Neymar and ence having managed in Italy, and France, but it was Rayo Vallecano last month, despite the fact Barca won the arrived at Barca and Madrid respectively has so far marked Martino who has made the better start to his first job in Eu- game 4-0.— AFP