22 Saturday, December 23, 2017 SPORTS Mario Gomez returns to Ronaldo ready Stuttgart London ermany striker Mario Gomez has left Wolfsburg Gto rejoin Stuttgart, the club with whom he made his name. The 32-year-old has signed for ‘Clasico’ told a news conference yesterday. them slip a remarkable 14 points a contract until 2020 at the eal Madrid’s Ronaldo is having his worst behind. Mercedes-Benz Arena, where he Cristiano domestic campaign in nine seasons “We aren’t feeling anxious, it played between 2003 and 2009, RonaldoR is ready to with Real, having scored only four doesn’t matter how many points winning the Bundesliga title in start today’s clash against league goals so far, although he we have dropped this season, 2007. Barcelona, where his side goes into the ‘Clasico’ having now we have to put in a great Gomez told the Stuttgart could either reignite their scored five times in his last four performance against a very good website: “I am very happy to be title defence or effectively be games in all competitions. side,” said Zidane. home again, back where it all knocked out of the running. Real are fourth in the Liga “It doesn’t matter if Barca have started for me.” Ronaldo had been absent standings, 11 points adrift of played well or not this season, Gomez left Stuttgart eight years from training after hurting his leaders Barca, who have played they are top on their own merits ago for Bayern Munich, with calf against Gremio in the Club one game more. and for a reason. We are behind whom he won two Bundesliga World Cup final last Saturday, in A win in Saturday’s lunchtime them and we want to cut that titles and the Champions League which he scored the only of kick off at the Santiago Bernabeu gap down. If we play well we can during a four-year spell. Real’s 1-0 win over the Brazilian would offer the champions the cause any team problems.” He then played for Fiorentina side and completed the full 90 chance to cut the gap with Barca Barca coach Ernesto Valverde and on loan at Besiktas before Real Madrid’s Cristiano minutes. to five points if they win their said the enormous gap in points returning to the Bundesliga with Ronaldo during training ses- “He is feeling good and is 100 game in hand against Leganes. between the two sides would have Wolfsburg in summer 2016. His sion (Picture courtesy: Reuters) percent,” coach Defeat, however, would see little bearing on the game. (Reuters) 16 league goals last season helped the Wolves beat the drop as Stuttgart won promotion back to the top flight, but has scored just Messi sends emotional message to once so far this term. His arrival will strengthen London Suarez at the Nou Camp. sharing the mates [a South American warmly thanking him for the present one of the weakest attacks in the ionel Messi has sent an emotional And Messi recalled moments hot drink] in the morning with Luis and calling the Argentine ‘an idol’ and division, with Stuttgart having festive message to his former the trio shared while they were all [Suarez] in the dressing room and a ‘great friend’. scored just 13 times in 17 league team-mateL Neymar in which he at Barcelona including times they many more things. Messi and Neymar have not met on games this season. They are admits Barcelona are still missing the drunk ‘mate’, a South American hot ‘Like always, I wish you the best the field since the £198m move and without a goal in their last four Brazilian. drink. wherever you are and I’m sure we will Barcelona have avoided PSG in the Bundesliga games. Neymar left Messi and Barcelona ‘Well, Ney... I think we said cross again on or off the pitch very draw for the last 16 of the Champions The move is subject to a to join big-spending Paris Saint- practically everything to each other soon. Take care of yourself.’ League. medical and the fee has not been Germain in August for a world-record when you left,’ Messi said in the Messi then reveals his Christmas Neymar has hit the ground running disclosed, although reports £198million fee. Christmas message to his former team- present to Neymar, which appears to since moving to the Parc des Princes in Germany The Brazilian’s move to Paris broke mate. be a bottle of wine, saying he knows the with 17 goals in all competitions for said it was up the formidable South American ‘The truth is that here we are still Brazilian will like it. Unai Emery’s side, who sit top of Ligue around three front three of Neymar, Messi and Luis missing you. We would like to keep Neymar responded to Messi’s video, 1. (dailymail.co.uk) million euros. (eurosport) Spanish giants to meet in El Clasico Having won the World Club Cup, Real Madrid now face a season- defining contest with Barcelona. Trailing their rivals by 11 points, defeat for Real in the 237th El Clasico could decide the destination of the title before Christmas

REAL MADRID v BARCELONA Santiago Bernabéu Mario Gomez

HEAD-TO-HEAD (All-time meetings) Real 95 Barcelona 92

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RECENT MEETINGS Coach Apr 23 Real 2-3 Barcelona Coach Zinedine Zidane Aug 13 Barcelona 1-3 Real Ernesto Captain Aug 16 Real 2-0 Barcelona Valverde Sergio Ramos Captain Top La Liga 2017/18 LA LIGA STATISTICS (per match) Andrés Iniesta goalscorer 2.00 Goals for 2.63 Top La Liga C. Ronaldo, 0.73 Goals against 0.44 goalscorer M. Asensio, 4 14.7 Shots 12.2 L. Messi, 14 La Liga 2017/18 590 Passes 661 La Liga 2017/18 W9 D4 L2 1.66 Yellow cards 1.75 W13 D3 L0 SPANISH HEAVYWEIGHTS: HONOURS 33 La Liga (right) 24 19 Copa del Rey 29 10 Spanish Super Cup 12 12 Champions League (left) 5 2 UEFA Competitions* 4 3 FIFA World Club Cup 3 Source: La Liga Pictures: Getty Images *UEFA Cup / UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup © GRAPHIC NEWS with Neymar (file pic)