Why Neymar Is the Immediate Future for Barcelona, Not Munir

Neymar will be the toast of Barcelona this evening after his cameo from the substitutes bench eventually downed a stubborn Athletic Bilbao side.

It was no more than the Catalans deserved and the Brazilian’s composure in front of goal was in contrast to young Munir El Haddadi, picked ahead of Neymar and riding the crest of a wave at the end of a tumultuous week.

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Luis Enrique noted this week via Goal.com how the pressure on Neymar was brutal at times:

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He's ready to compete, he should get the all-clear tomorrow. He's a special player. He's subject to brutal pressure for his country and his club and I hope that, through hard work, he can become one of the best players in the world.

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The manager has got everything exactly right so far this season, and so a delayed introduction to proceedings was just what the doctor ordered, with Neymar responding in kind.

His two sublimely cool finishes were the work of a craftsman and incredibly were his first goals in La Liga since March against Celta Vigo.

With Barca dominating proceedings—61 percent possession according to WhoScored—his was a timely intervention.

Immediately involved, Neymar was busy and workmanlike and his 27 touches with 81 percent pass accuracy compare favourably to the man he replaced on the hour, Munir.

The youngster has, in the space of six short months, made debuts for Barcelona, Barca B, Spain U19, Spain U21 and the Spanish senior side.

That’s a meteoric rise in anyone’s book, but the danger remains expecting too much, too soon from El Haddadi.

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His 45 touches with 68 percent accuracy per WhoScored hints at where the youngster needs to improve his game over the coming months.

Keen and a little too eager at times, Munir still managed to have a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside and garner two reasonable penalty appeals, but there was certainly a feeling of someone trying too hard.

Neymar’s experience shone through from almost his first minute on the pitch.

Relaxed in possession and sharp when called upon, his brace came inside five second half minutes, thanks in part to Lionel Messi, who welcomed back an old friend with two assists.

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Injury worries aside, this is destined to be a huge season for Neymar. In just 30 minutes today he showed the maturity that was missing at times last season.

Genuine competition for places up front means that no one is guaranteed a place in Enrique’s starting line-up.

But a confident and inspired Neymar should see the challenge of any young pretenders swiftly extinguished.