Football
AS.com 9y

Luis Suarez lacking sharpness, but his class is still intact - Uruguay media

The Uruguayan media said star striker Luis Suarez was "far from his best" as he made his first international appearance since being banned for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

The Barcelona forward played 69 minutes of the friendly against Saudi Arabia, setting up the opening goal in a 1-1 draw when his volley came back off the post and went in off a defender for an own goal.

Ovacion, the sports supplement of Uruguayan newspaper El Pais, said: "One hundred and nine days after (the bite on Chiellini), Luis Suarez returned to play in the shirt of Uruguay.

"In anticipation of the 25th (October), his official return date to play for Barcelona, the striker played his first demanding 70 minutes and, without producing a brilliant performance, played a crucial role with the goal coming after his shot had hit the upright."

La Republica said that Suarez "proved to be lacking in match sharpness, but the class is still intact," while El Observador wrote: "The Barca player was far from his best, slow and sometimes even sluggish in his movements, which is understandable given that he has not played a demanding match since June 24."

Suarez could also play against Oman -- the last game he could play in before Barcelona take on Real Madrid later this month.

He has been allowed to play in friendly matches despite the four-month ban from all football activity imposed after he bit Chiellini following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in August.

^ Back to Top ^