Out of the Kings Cup and the Champions League, Real Madrid will focus all their energy on trying to win a third successive league title for the first time in over a decade.
Out of the Kings Cup and the Champions League, Real Madrid will focus all their energy on trying to win a third successive league title for the first time in over a decade.
Real responded to their humiliating 4-0 Champions League debacle against Liverpool with a 5-2 win at 10-man Athletic Bilbao to stay within six points of Barcelona who defeated Almeria 2-0 on Sunday.
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Madrid have won the previous two league titles under Fabio Capello and Bernd Schuster and now Juande Ramos is trying to make it three in a row for the first time since 1988.
"If we had to choose I would have preferred to continue in the Champions League," said Ramos. "But on a positive note, it's clear that we now have seven days to prepare for each match and Barcelona do not.
"Fatigue though isn't always a factor. It doesn't mean we will narrow the gap sooner.
"The team responded and did what it had to do. It was especially important after the intense match we played against Liverpool."
Barcelona have reached the Kings Cup final and the quarter-finals of the Champions League and midfielder Xavi admits Real will be well-rested for their league assault.
Happy
"They (Real) will have one game a week now and will be able to rest," declared Xavi. "You never know what is better. However, we're happy to have got through to the quarter-finals."
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas admitted it was crucial that Real bounced back from their Liverpool defeat and got the spoils at the intimidating San Mames.
"We were coming off a tough loss and won a great match in a difficult place to play," said Casillas. "We did our homework and we must continue playing like we did. We will fight until the very last match to win this league."
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