The National's Sport cover for the Wednesday, July 6 issue, featuring Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepare to face off with Wales and Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-final.
Richard Jolly previews the match-up, writing:
“They are the world’s most expensive player and the man who replaced him as the world’s most expensive player, Real Madrid’s Galacticos and Champions League winners, part of the modern breed of roaming, brilliantly quick goalscoring wingers.
“In theory, more unites Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale than divides them.
“In practice, the Portuguese seems to even regard colleagues as rivals, especially those who could replace him as Real’s flagship player. ‘There won’t be any love lost on the evening,’ said Wales manager Chris Coleman.
“Ronaldo and Bale’s duel may be fought out over several seasons, with leading-man status at the Bernabeu only one of the prizes on offer for potential Ballon d’Or winners.
“In the short term, however, their battle will produce a winner and a loser. The prize for progress is a place in the final of Euro 2016.”
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