Catching Barcelona Will Be Difficult - Casillas

The Real Madrid goalkeeper admitted that winning the Champions League seems easier right now.

Iker Casillas has acknowledged today that catching Barcelona at the top of La Primera Division will be difficult for Real Madrid.

The defending champions currently sit twelve points behind the Catalans, and Casillas told AS that finishing top will be tough.

"It is hard to catch Barcelona because they do not lose. It is a difficult situation. They do not fail, and we have to keep on fighting, fighting and waiting for them to slip up," he mused.

Certainly Barcelona have been the most impressive team in Spain this season, and it doesn't look as though they will drop the amount of points required for Madrid to catch them.

Casillas admitted that perhaps this season it will be easier for them to win the Champions League, rather than domestic silverware.

"I hope that we can qualify from this round. The Champions League seems easier, because there are only six matches then it is the final," he declared. Madrid face Liverpool in the next round, with the first leg at the Bernabeu on 25 February.

"Anything can happen, we are relaxed. The only thing we think about is winning, and we have not been damaged by what has happened to the club."

If Casillas plays against Racing Santander at the Bernabeu this evening he will equal the record for the most appearances made by a goalkeeper at Real Madrid, currently held by Paco Buyo.

Another record that will be challenged this evening is the amount of goals scored by a Real Madrid player, with Raul needing just one more to become top scorer of all time for the club.