The Star E-dition

Spotlight on Clasico rising stars

He is likely to provide Barcelona’s main threat alongside Memphis

Depay and Sergio Aguero, whose own comeback from a calf injury he suffered in pre-season continued with cameo appearances against Valencia and

Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League on Wednesday.

For Real Madrid, Karim Benzema is having probably the best season of his career and is a contender to win the Ballon D’or.

He is LaLiga’s top scorer, with nine goals and seven assists, but despite the France international’s excellent form, the headlines in the Spanish capital this week were focused on his partner up front.

The 21-year-old Brazilian Vinicius Jr scored a brace in Real’s 5-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk and with seven goals in 11 games this season, he has already improved on last season’s output, when he scored six times in 49 appearances.

Often criticised in years past for his poor finishing, Vinicius has improved under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, with his seven goals coming from only 17 attempts.

On Sunday, Vinicius will have the chance at the Camp Nou to keep silencing his critics.

Having shone against Barcelona the last time the sides met at Santiago Bernabeu in March 2020, with a superb goal, he will arrive on a mission and be difficult to stop.

Current LaLiga leaders, Real Sociedad, face champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Diego Simeone’s Atletico side are level with Real, Sevilla and Osasuna on 17 points, three behind the Basque team.

SPORT

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2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/281788517260871

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