Neymar and the weekend's top performances
Here are Sports Gazette's top five performances in European football this weekend, join the debate by suggesting who else has shone across Europe.
Neymar, Barcelona
Without Lionel Messi, Barcelona needed somebody to assume the vacated responsibility and Neymar’s goal splurge is just what the Blaugrana were looking for.
Though he will be required to show this prolific form in front of goal against stiffer tests than Rayo Vallecano, the courage to dribble directly at goal and bring out his box of tricks can only be commended.
This led to the Brazilian winning and converting two penalties, and he demonstrated a clinical edge to his finishing by blasting in his hat trick after Toño parried Luis Suarez’s fierce shot.
The Uruguayan squared to the 23-year-old to add his fourth, a tap-in from a square pass into an empty net and he returned the favour moments later with a delightful cross that Suarez clinically finished at the back post as Barcelona ran riot.
Georginio Wijnaldum, Newcastle
On another day, Moussa Sissoko would have claimed man of the match, but Georginio Wijnaldum’s four goals were too much to ignore.
Two well-placed headers were book-ended by two cleanly struck shots with his right—though the fourth took a slight deflection as it flew into the top right corner.
His injection of pace and movement off the ball make him a huge asset for Newcastle and his style should allow him to continue to shine in the Premier League.
Max Kruse, Wolfsburg
It took him a while, but in his ninth game for Wolfsburg, Max Kruse finally broke his duck and soon added two more to grab a hat-trick against Hoffenheim.
Though the German international broke the deadlock with a simple tap-in, it was thoroughly deserved due to his desire to reach Julian Draxler’s cross with a deep run to arrive into the box.
His second was more impressive and crucially regained the lead for the hosts after the visitors had come from 2-0 down to level. Kruse neatly curled the ball around Niklas Sule—who was blocking his route to goal—finding the bottom corner.
The hat-trick goal had elements of the first, as Kruse out sprinted Sule to meet Andre Schurrle's cross and guide a volley past Oliver Baumann to seal victory for Die Wölfe.
Marcelo, Real Madrid
Marcelo is absolutely crucial to Real Madrid due to his ability to break the lines and give Rafael Benitez’s side a gear change in the build-up to attacking moves.
The Brazilian showed this once again this weekend, he won back possession high up the pitch, drove forward with purpose and combined with Cristiano Ronaldo before slashing the ball past Ruben Martinez into the far corner for a stunning opener.
His instinctive movement throughout was central to Los Merengues’ best play.
Franco Vasquez, Palermo
His amigo Paulo Dybala left to join Juventus last summer, but Franco Vasquez is still shining for Palermo as half of last season’s most outstanding attacking partnership in Serie A.
The 26-year-old demonstrated his class at Bologna by knitting together several neat moves from the Sicilians.
His vision and perfect weight to his passing helped the Rosanero cut open the Felsinei at times, though the Azzurri international finished off a move himself to grab the winner.
A well-timed run, good take and cool head capped a brilliant team goal.
