Spain coach warns against 'friendly' match

Spain coach Inaki Saez has warned his players that there will be no room for relaxation when his side take on in-form Bulgaria in an international friendly in Granada on Wednesday.

Saez is fully aware that the national team's fixture will be relegated to a minor sideshow in a week that will be dominated by the build-up to the weekend's derby match between the country's two biggest clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona.

With eight of the 18-man squad involved in the clash at the Nou Camp the Spain coach has had to field the inevitable questions about the ability of his players to focus on the game in Granada.

"I have confidence in the professionalism of my players," he said on Monday. "This is a team of the future and anyone who misses the boat this time will have missed it forever."

"The attitude must be exactly the same as for a full scale qualifier - everyone must give 100 percent and I have made that absolutely clear to the players."

The last time Spain played an international in the week prior to a game between Real and Barca they turned in one of their worst performances in recent years as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat against England at Villa Park in February last year.

But Saez's young side are unbeaten since he took over the reins of the national team following Jose Antonio Camacho's decision to quit after the World Cup.

Convincing wins against Greece and Northern Ireland in Euro 2004 qualifiers have taken them to the top of their group, while they also managed less impressive draws against Hungary and Paraguay in friendly matches.

This time they will have to make do without leading scorer and skipper Raul, who is being rested following his recent injuries and illness, as well as rising star Joaquin who is suffering from a minor leg injury.