Perez Baits Barça Ahead Of Clash

Real Madrid supremo Florentino Perez has dropped some fightin’ words before their showdown with arch nemesis Barcelona.

The Merengue president spoke of the Catalans as if they were any other mid-table opponent.

"We consider Barcelona as a rival because they are the next team we face, nothing more," dismissed Perez. "In the league they are not doing very well and therefore Deportivo and Real Soceidad are of greater concern to us.”

"This club never really concerns itself with other team's defeats," he snorted.

Perez also contemptuously assumed that the Spanish Football Federation would clear a red card ban for Barcelona striker Javier Saviola.

"(He) will play in the Bernabéu," he assured. "All the teams that have had a player sanctioned before meeting us have had those cards taken away."