Barcelona look to close gap as Real Christmas cracker looms

With 'El Derby' on the horizon Barcelona are playing catch-up on rivals Real Madrid trying to close a four-point gap before the two teams meet in a Christmas cracker at Camp Nou on December 23.

Last season Barcelona led from the front only for Real to steal the title in the closing weeks of the campaign but this time around they have been the ones doing the chasing.

Barcelona's 1-1 derby draw at Espanyol last weekend saw them lose more ground and just one win away from home underlines an increasing problem.

"Last Saturday's draw did not feel like a defeat but it was a fair result and we are not performing as well as we should away from home," explained coach Frank Rijkaard.

Rijkaard made a bold statement by dropping Brazilian Ronaldinho to the bench showing that no-one is bigger than the team.

"Everything I do is for the good of the team. When Ronaldinho gets back to his best it will be great for us," added the Dutchman.

Barcelona are at home on Sunday and host a Deportivo La Coruna team that are a shadow of the side that used to be regulars on the Champions League circuit.

Deportivo are in the bottom three and Barcelona are expected to net the three points.

Real have proved more resilient than Barca on their travels and can put pressure on their foes by winning at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

The re-emergence of captain Raul has been the major boost for Real this season with the striker scoring eight goals to top the goalscoring charts along with Lionel Messi and Luis Fabiano.

Raul now has 195 league goals for Real and is just 21 behind the club's legendary all-time leading scorer Alfredo di Stefano.

Raul collected the last of his 102 caps for the Spanish national team back in September 2006 and coach Luis Aragones has not ruled out taking him to Euro 2008 in the summer.

"He could go to the European championships," said Aragones. "He is getting a lot of credit and he deserves it all."

Another bonus for Real manager Bernd Schuster is the rebirth of Brazilian midfielder Julio Baptista who shone in the starting line-up against Racing last weekend.

Baptista was farmed out on loan at Arsenal last season but Schuster has now given the ex-Sevilla man a last chance to prove his worth.

Villarreal slipped up with a 2-0 defeat against Valladolid but still lie third, level on points with Barcelona, and face a Real Betis in crisis.

Betis sacked Hector Cuper after the 2-0 reverse against Atletico and Paco Chapparo has the task of guiding the club, now second from bottom, to safety.

Elsewhere Atletico Madrid aim to consolidate fourth position in Sunday's derby match against Getafe.

"We are fourth now and the aim is to be in the top four come the end of the season," explained Atletico coach Javier Aguirre.

Atletico are just a point behind Barcelona but Getafe are no pushover having already toppled Barcelona 2-0 this season.

Valencia have fallen to sixth following a shock 3-0 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao and their new coach Ronald Koeman is far from happy.

"It is a mental problem as when we go behind we do things we would not normally do," fumed Koeman. "The team lacks courage and needs much more aggression."

Valencia are at Osasuna on Saturday looking to rebuild flagging confidence.

UEFA Cup holders Sevilla know all about that with last season's third place a distant memory as they lie 12th after tasting eight defeats.

Sevilla, who have reached the knockout phase of the Champions League, entertain Murcia on Sunday.