Lionel Messi’s return from injury looks to be coming at exactly the right time for Barcelona as he gears up for a reunion with Neymar and Luis Suarez for Saturday’s La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Real Madrid.The most lethal attacking trio in Spanish football history have not played together since Argentina’s Messi injured a knee at the end of September, during which time Brazil forward Neymar and Uruguay striker Suarez have flourished.Neymar has thrived on the extra creative responsibility given him by coach Luis Enrique and he has developed a stronger understanding with his team mates, especially Suarez.The pair have netted 16 goals in Barca’s last seven games and for the first time in recent years, with Barca top of La Liga and leading their Champions League group, there is no talk of “Messi dependency”.The debate over whether Messi, a four-time World Player of the Year, is irreplaceable has morphed into a discussion about whether the 23-year-old Neymar will be his worthy heir at the Nou Camp.Messi’s return against Real would clearly give a new dimension to the Barca attack whether he starts or is deployed off the bench.
It is 10 years this week since the 28-year-old played his first ‘Clasico’ and he has left an indelible mark with a record 21 goals in 30 matches against Barca’s arch rivals.”We are aware that Leo is the best in the world and we will always recognise that,” Suarez told a news conference on Wednesday.”Time will tell how good a forward line we are but it is true that we get on well and the whole team helps us to score goals.”Without the players behind us though we would be nothing and we wouldn’t achieve anything.”
source:Reuters
