Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Gareth Bale is in prime condition to make his mark on El Clasico when his side host Barcelona on Sunday
Gareth Bale
Madrid: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Gareth Bale is in prime condition to make his mark on El Clasico when his side host Barcelona on Sunday.
Gareth Bale
The Welshman failed to make an impact in an unusual position as a false number nine and was substituted after an hour in his first experience of the biggest game in European football as Real lost 2-1 to Barca at the Camp Nou back in October.
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However, Bale has since recovered from the injury problems that blighted his first few months in the Spanish capital after his huge summer move from Tottenham Hotspur and has gone on to score 14 goals and provide 17 assists in just 31 appearances.
"In the first game he was switching positions with (Angel) Di Maria at times, but now he is used to playing on the wing and the team is balanced so we won't change that," Ancelotti told his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
"He is in good shape. His physical condition is very important for him and I am sure he will play a great game. He just has great genes and has done the same work."
Barca's last chance
Meanwhile, Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino has admitted that his side need to beat Real Madrid if they are to have any chance of retaining their La Liga title.
"I think it is probably the last chance we will have because after this game there are only nine games left and it is not the same thing to come back from one point behind to four or seven," he said on Saturday.
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