Former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder Michael Laudrup believes Gerardo Martino’s side must win Sunday’s Clasico to keep its Liga defense alive.
The capital club sits four points clear of its bitter rival heading into the Santiago Bernabeu clash, but the Blaugrana won the meeting at Camp Nou earlier this season. Former Denmark international Laudrup feels that home advantage could be key when the two sides meet this weekend and has tipped Carlo
Ancelotti’s men for success. “Real Madrid are favorites because they are playing at home, but both teams have players who can change the balance game,” he told Cadena COPE. “Real Madrid were behind but now have the chance to knock a rival likeBarcelona out of the title race because it a seven-point deficit with nine games would be very complicated.” Both clubs made big money signings in the summer, with Barca bringing Neymar to the club and Madrid breaking the world transfer record to lure Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu, and Laudrup feels both could do well in La Liga. “You have to give Bale and Neymar time, but when you pay so much money for them, patience isn’t the word because you pay immediately,” said the former Swansea boss. “They are both good but they have to adapt to Real Madrid and Barcelona’s games. Bale has been injured, but hasn’t had a bad year.” – GOAL.com via Yahoo Sports
