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SPORTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 Neymar outshines Bale in battle of big-money buys BARCELONA: Gareth Bale was given his chance to that every player wants to play in.” The contrast on the pitch, overshadowing the world’s best in been all bad news for Bale, though. He scored his shine on the biggest stage of all on Saturday as he between the summer’s blockbuster signings couldn’t Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. only Real goal to date on his debut against Villarreal. made his El Clasico debut for Real Madrid against have been greater and merely summed up the differ- His goal may only have been his fourth in 14 However, since then a series of niggling injuries Barcelona on Saturday. ence in how they have adapted to La Liga in their appearances, but his through ball from which have hampered his participation and he is still to play However, unfortunately for the Welshman, it was first two months in Spain. Sanchez finished the contest with a nonchalant lob a full 90 minutes in any of his six appearances. Bale another expensive import making his bow in the fix- Neymar has benefited massively from the relative- over Lopez was already his seventh assist, making was defended by his own boss Carlo Ancelotti after ture who shone, as Neymar scored Barca’s opener ly swift process that saw his 57 million euro ($78.1 him the chief goal creator in a side boasting the tal- the game, the Italian making the wholly reasonable and then teed up Alexis Sanchez to make the game million, £48.3 million) move from Santos completed ents of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas. argument that he will need time on the field to safe 12 minutes from time. before Barca had even completed last season. “Neymar played a great game,” Barca boss adjust to the demands required of him at the Jese Rodriguez pulled a goal back for Madrid in The Brazilian arrived to a hero’s welcome in the Gerardo Martino added. “To score a goal in the Spanish giants. stoppage time to make the final score 2-1, but Bale Catalan capital on the first Monday in June before Clasico creates a huge impact.” Bale, by contrast, had However, patience is not a virtue normally associ- had long since departed by that point as he was returning to his homeland to take the world, and a much more anxious summer as he waited to see if ated with matters at Madrid. Given the size of his vast replaced by Karim Benzema with half an hour even some of his new teammates, by storm by guid- his dream move to the world’s richest club would transfer fee, the fact that Madrid are now six points remaining. ing his country to the Confederations Cup with a 3-0 finally come off. behind Barca in the title race and that it is their new “I am very happy to score such a special goal, but win over Spain. By the time it did, on the first day in September, star who is setting the league alight, time is ticking above all for the three points that we achieved,” said On Saturday night, it wasn’t merely that the 21- his chance of a bedding-in period and pre-season for Bale to show the form that made him the Premier Neymar. “It was very exciting to score in the game year-old outshone Bale, he was he standout player with his new teammates had disappeared. It hasn’t League Player of the Year last season. — AFP Super-sub Balde gives Celtic narrow win GLASGOW: Substitute Amido Balde made will probably win.” Lennon made just two an instant impact as he grabbed the winner changes to his side from the midweek for Celtic against Partick Thistle on Sunday Champions League win over Ajax with in the first Glasgow derby of the season. Scott Brown returning from suspension In their first meeting in nine years, Celtic and Joe Ledley handed his first start since were made to work hard for a 2-1 victory returning from injury. The Welsh midfielder away to newly-promoted Thistle at Firhill. was first to threaten for the visitors before Georgios Samaras was left unmarked to Anthony Stokes was denied by a fine Fox head Celtic into a 34th-minute lead from save half an hour in. But three minutes later Emilio Izaguirre’s corner, but the home side Thistle gave away a cheap goal when had a lively start to the second half and Kris Samaras was afforded too much space in Doolan hit the crossbar before moments the box and the Greek striker headed home later prodding the ball past Fraser Forster Izaguirre’s corner. to level matters in the 67th minute. The goal boosted Celtic and a minute However, Balde was immediately later Thistle had Fox to thank as he made a brought off the bench for a rare appear- super stop to keep out an effort from ance and the striker scored a fine solo Teemu Pukki. Thistle then had a chance of effort - just his second goal since signing their own as Kallum Higginbotham raced for the club in the summer - that maintains up the park and rifled a shot jut wide of Celtic’s unbeaten start to the Scottish Forster’s post. Play then raged up to the Premiership campaign and leaves the Jags other end and Fox again thwarted Pukki still searching for their first win at home after the Finnish striker had been teed up this season. by strike partner Stokes. The only negative for Celtic, who moved Celtic were appealing for a penalty six points clear at the top of the table shortly after the break when Conrad ahead of Motherwell’s clash with St Balatoni appeared to bring down Brown in Johnstone, was the injuries to Izaguirre and the box but the home side had a reprieve Samaras which meant the Parkhead club as referee Willie Collum waved away the finished the match with 10 men after protests. already using all three substitutes. And the home fans were able to cele- “They had to dig it out in the end. We brate a well deserved 67th-minute equalis- were sloppy at times with our finishing and er through Doolan. The Jags forward, who should have been out of sight at half-time,” moments before had clipped the crossbar Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. with an effort, sent a side-footed effort past “I think Scott Fox has made three great Forster after Thistle had worked the ball UDINE: AS Roma’s forward Marco Borriello (back) fights for the ball with Udinese’s Brazilian defender Pereira Edinaldo Gomes during their Serie one-on-one saves and at 1-1 Partick Thistle back into the box. Izaguirre fired just over A football match Udinese vs AS Roma at “Stadio Friuli” b in Udine yesterday. — AFP were always in the game and they’re a before Forster made a good save to deny good team. Our reaction was good though Higginbotham as there were chances at and it was a brilliant win.” Meanwhile, both ends to win it. But, seven minutes Thistle manager Alan Archibald was unhap- after coming on, substitute Balde scored a Roma set new Serie A py with his side’s defending at the first goal. great individual goal to restore Celtic’s lead. “It was very poor. We said before the Sean Welsh lost the ball just inside the game don’t give them set plays as we knew Celtic half to Izaguirre who played in Balde they were a danger but everyone had a job and the Portuguese striker used his record of 9 opening wins to do and they didn’t do it properly,” he strength to hold off Muirhead and drive at said. “But I will take out a lot of positives as goal before slipping the ball past the if we play like that against most sides we advancing ‘keeper for a cool finish. — AFP Restores five-point cushion Gonzalo Higuain scores MILAN: League leaders Roma beat Udinese 1-0 Title challengers Napoli had heaped the pressure Asamoah appeared to have been fouled outside away yesterday to set a new all-time record of nine on Garcia’s side before what was always going to the box. Asamoah was pivotal in Juve’s second, his controversial brace from spot consecutive wins at the start of a Serie A season to be a tough away trip to Udinese by dominating dribbling on the left mesmerising the Genoa restore their five-point cushion. Roma, who have Torino 2-0 at the San Paolo to reduce their arrears defence before Tevez collected his pass, feinted conceded just one goal in their nine wins under to two points. And for much of what was a bal- past one defender and beat Mattia Perrin in the vis- MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain scored twice keeper soon found himself facing Higuain French coach Rudi Garcia, were reduced to 10 men anced encounter, Roma finally looked as if they itors’ net. Juve coach Antonio Conte was pleased from the spot after seemingly generous from 11 metres out again just after the half in the second half after Brazilian Maicon saw red for would fail to take all three points for the first time with his side’s performance, especially the emerg- penalty decisions to hand Napoli a 2-0 win hour. a second bookable offence. in the league this season. ing pairing of Tevez and Spain international over Torino and close the gap to Serie A Federico Fernandez smashed his shot However the setback failed to shake the leaders, Both sides saw several chances go amiss but Fernando Llorente: “I liked what I saw from Tevez leaders Roma to two points yesterday.