Frustrated Neymar eyes Malaga start
NEYMAR could start for the first time for Barcelona when the Spanish champions visit Malaga on Sunday.
Neymar was Barcelona’s only summer signing and arrived at the Camp Nou amid great expectations. However, he has still to start a match for the Blaugranas.
He was a late substitute in the 7-0 league debut destruction of Levante, and came off the bench on the hour in Wednesday’s Super Cup first leg at Atletico Madrid.
Within six minutes, the Brazilian star had made it 1-1 for Barca, by heading in a centre from compatriot Dani Alves. “I don’t score many goals with my head so I value them a lot,” he said.
Neymar bemoaned the fact that he has still hardly played with world player of the year Lionel Messi. Barca fans are hoping that they will form a formidable tandem, but so far they have only been together for a few minutes.
Messi was taken off at halftime on Wednesday after receiving a heavy blow to the left thigh, but is expected to be fit by Sunday. “It’s a shame not to have played with Messi again,” said Neymar. “He is the best in the world. Everyone wants to play with him.”
Will new coach Gerardo Martino start with the two South American aces in Malaga? Malaga’s Argentinian defender Marcos Angeleri is hoping he does not.
“They are both wonderful players,” Angeleri said. “To have them coming at you together would be horrible. We are working hard all this week on strategies to defend well against them.”
Angeleri will probably stand in again for injured Brazilian Weligton. Last week, Malaga’s new coach, Bernd Schuster, raised eyebrows by saying: “We don’t expect to pick up any points in our first three games.” They lost 1-0 at Valencia on their debut. Their third match is away to Sevilla.
In other matches on Sunday, Real Betis take on Celta Vigo, Levante face Sevilla and Atletico Madrid will meet Rayo Vallecano. Atletico showed on Wednesday that they are in lively form, with Diego Costa and David Villa linking up well in attack.
Rayo, for their part, will be without injury victims Ismael Gil and Jose Carlos, but they will probably have Iago Falque on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The second round of games will start today with Getafe against Almeria and Athletic Bilbao against Osasuna. The game will be played in Real Sociedad’s Estadio Anoeta because Bilbao’s new Estadio San Mames has still not been completed.
The new ground should be ready for the clash against Celta Vigo on September 15.
Bilbao right-back Andoni Iraola said: “Playing in Anoeta should not be a problem. A lot of our fans will make the trip there to cheer us on.”
Tomorrow will see Espanyol face Valencia, Villarreal against Valladolid and Elche against Real Sociedad, who are on cloud nine after Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Olympique Lyon in the playoffs for the Champions League. Monday will see Real Madrid at Granada, who beat them 1-0 last season. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti will have to decide whether to keep Spain captain Iker Casillas on the bench and continue with Diego Lopez in goal.