Real coach fears Barcelona loss

Real Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque has admitted that defeat in the upcoming match against archrivals Barcelona would cause serious problems, as a loss to the Catalans would result in a nine-point gap between the Nou Camp side and the Madridistas.

Real won 3-2 against Villarreal last weekend thanks to a last minute goal from Raul. The win was expected to give Real a boost in morale, but Del Bosque was leery of making too much of the win.

"We have a greater need to win," Del Bosque explained of the upcoming Barcelona match. "They are six points ahead now and, although it is early in the season, it would be very dangerous if they opened up a nine-point advantage."

He added: "All the pressure will be on us. It will be very dangerous if they win."

Barcelona will head into the match with confidence after a 3-0 win over Real Betis last weekend.

Del Bosque also had words of respect for his counterpart, Barca coach Carles Rexach.

"Barcelona are coached by a man who knows the club very well," said Del Bosque. "And I have no doubt that he would love to bring success to them. Rexach is doing everything right and is only going to do things that are good for Barcelona," he said.

The Real coach also stated that international call-ups would affect both sides. "Both teams will have some very important players missing. We have Roberto Carlos and they have Rivaldo on duty with Brazil."

"We are not going to change our tactics against them. We made no special considerations for Martin Palermo or Victor at the weekend and we are not going to make them for Patrick Kluivert or Javier Saviola."