Real Madrid vs Sevilla preview - Ancelotti focused on Sevilla clash

Carlo Ancelotti has warned his Real Madrid side they cannot afford to look too far ahead as they prepare to welcome Sevilla to the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Real can extend their lead at the top of the Primera Division to four points ahead of the mouth-watering Madrid derby at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Saturday.

Ancelotti, though, is focused on matters at hand and is keeping thoughts of Atletico out of his mind until they have played Sevilla, whom they beat to win the UEFA Super Cup in August.

"The match against Sevilla will pose risks if we aren't at our best," he told the Spanish media. "The most important game is tomorrow's, not the derby. We can extend our lead over our rivals and I'll field the best team possible.

"Sevilla are a dangerous team because they have quality players and really compete. They're very well organised, with players who can play on the break and in tight spaces. They have different characteristics.

"They attack in numbers and look to press up front. It's going to be a great fight for fourth place, between Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal and maybe Malaga. It'll be a fight right to the end."

Cristiano Ronaldo will complete his suspension after seeing red against Cordoba 10 days ago, while defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao will miss out due to injury in this clash which has been held over following Real's exertions in the FIFA Club World Cup.

"The team will be more or less unchanged from the game against Real Sociedad," added Ancelotti, whose side thumped David Moyes' men 4-1 last weekend to extend their winning run in the league to four matches.

Despite showing some flashes of brilliance against Sociedad, Gareth Bale was once again subjected to boos from a section of the Real crowd.

He has yet to win over the Bernabeu faithful even though he scored what would prove to be the winners in the Copa Del Rey and Champions League finals - against fierce rivals Barcelona and Atletico respectively.

Ancelotti, though, had nothing but praise for the former Southampton and Tottenham midfielder.

"He's giving everything to help the team. Last year he did well, and he's scored in all the finals we've played," Ancelotti said.

"He's having a fantastic season and we're calm because he's doing very well for the team. I don't think he heard the whistles in the match against Real Sociedad. He put in nice pieces of play which the crowd liked."

Sevilla climbed up to fourth - and the final Champions League spot - after hitting back from a goal down to beat Espanyol 3-2 last weekend.

Manager Unai Emery is under no illusions as to the size of the task his side face, but is confident they can come away with something.

"We play every game to win," he said.

"We may have to take our chances, but we have nothing in mind other than to go out and win. We have the opportunity. We know the difficulty of Madrid in their stadium but our only mentality is to overcome that."