Barcelona vs Real Betis preview - Mascherano: El Clasico not a distraction

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 by PA

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano insists his side will be putting all thoughts of next week's mouthwatering Copa del Rey showdown against Real Madrid to one side while they focus their efforts on Sunday's Primera Division encounter with Real Betis.

Barca and Madrid meet in the first leg of the cup quarter-finals at the Bernabeu on Wednesday in what is a repeat of last season's final, which Jose Mourinho's men won 1-0.

However, before the two Spanish heavyweights renew their rivalry Barca will aim to keep the pressure up on Madrid at the top of the league standings.

In-form Madrid moved five points clear last weekend after Barca were held 1-1 at Espanyol and, with Mourinho's side playing Real Mallorca on Saturday, the reigning champions could find themselves eight points adrift by the time they take the field against improving Betis.

With that prospect in mind, Mascherano knows Barca can ill afford to be distracted by their upcoming trip to the Bernabeu.

"Having qualified for the next round of the cup, now the most important thing is to continue fighting for the league," Mascherano said.

"This team is used to thinking about the next game. That's what happens when you play so many competitions. We must try and get these three points which will help us to continue fighting for the league, and after that we will have time to think about Real Madrid."

The Argentina international added: "This team cannot afford to throw away the league because of a five-point difference. With 63 points left to play for, anything can still happen."

Barca have won their last seven successive competitive games at the Nou Camp, scoring a remarkable 35 goals and conceding none in the process, but they may not have it easy against a Betis side who look to be getting back on track after a dismal run of form.

Betis led the Primera Division standings after winning their opening four games following promotion, but they then went into freefall, picking up just one point from their next 10 games.

However, the Andalusian club have now won four of their last five league and cup games - including triumphs over Valencia and Atletico Madrid - and full-back Jose Isidoro is hoping his side can continue that form against a Barca team he insists are not unbeatable.

"If you do a good job, take your chances and the team is on song, Barcelona are not invincible. The key is to score so they know we can hurt them," he said.

Like Barca, Betis also have a big game coming up the following week as they face bitter city rivals Sevilla in La Liga, but Isidoro says the derby remains on the back-burner for now.

"The changing room is totally focused on this game (against Barca). We are aware that any point we pick up is important towards staying up," he said.