Özil's heir to start the Clásico

Ángel di María would have stood to win a few bets if someone had wagered he would be on the way out with Bale in the starting line-up. The Argentine winger won Ancelotti over in the summer and this feeling has grown and grown, so much so that there are doubts as to whether Bale will be in the starting line-up in the Camp Nou. The odds are heavily stacked against Ángel di María starting the match on the bench.

Di María will almost certainly be in the starting eleven in the Camp Nou. His performances have convinced all and sundry, those who backed him and those who showed him the door. The consensus is absolute.

Ancelotti can take satisfaction from the way the Argentine bridges the gap between defence and attack like no other forward. The Italian also breathes a sigh of relief when Di María sets up his teammates to score. If Özil's departure left a gap to be filled, Di María has taken on the role he left behind perfectly. What better example of the fact than Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal against Juventus?

So far this season he has created six goals - four in the Champions and two in La Liga. These chances have come from open play and set pieces alike. Di María is the king of the assist, ahead of Benzema and Cristiano, both of whom are on three a piece, followed by Isco and Marcelo with two.

In addition, he is set to return to a stadium where he has left his mark on numerous occasions - namely the Camp Nou. On his last visit, in the second leg of the Cup last year, he broke past Puyol and his shot ended up with a goal for Ronaldo.