How did Neymar & Bale compare in Clasico debuts?
James Maw uses Stats Zone to compare the two big-money summer signings
Two of the summer's biggest and most-high-profile summer signings went head-to-head, as Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in Saturday evening's first Clasico of the season.
In the Catalan corner, was Brazilian boy-wonder Neymar, while from the Spanish capital came Welsh wizard Gareth Bale.
The Barcelona newcomer has enjoyed a more settled start to life in La Liga, thanks not only to the fact he signed early in the summer rather than just before the transfer deadline, but also because he's actually been fully match fit.
That was perhaps a factor on Saturday, as the Brazilian shone and Bale sadly didn't...
ANALYSE IT Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
Passes (completed)
Neymar 33 (26)
Bale 23 (13)
Pass completion %
Neymar 79%
Bale 57%
Chances created
Neymar 2
Bale 0
Assists
Neymar 1
Bale 0
Take-ons
Neymar 2
Bale 0
Crosses (completed)
Neymar 1 (0)
Bale 1 (0)
Shots (on target)
Neymar 3 (3)
Bale 2 (0)
Goals
Neymar 1
Bale 0
Tackles
Neymar 0
Bale 1
Fouls
Neymar 4
Bale 2
Yellow cards
Neymar 0
Bale 1
So who came out on top?
We can't sugar-coat this one. Sorry, Gareth. Still, the tackles...
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