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Real starts crucial week against Sevilla

Fri 5th, March 2010

Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Real Madrid welcomes Sevilla to the Bernabeu on Saturday for the first game of a two-game span that could ultimately define the Spanish giant's season.

Real spent nearly $400 million during the offseason, including $132 million on Cristiano Ronaldo, but could slip in the La Liga title chase and be eliminated from the Champions League before the week is over.

Madrid is just two points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and puts its undefeated home record on the line against fourth-place Sevilla. Five days later, Lyon is traveling to the Bernabeu for the second leg of a Champions League Round of 16 series it leads 1-0.

"We need to take one step at a time. Saturday's match is very important," Real midfielder Guti said.

Obviously, though, it will be tough for Real to focus completely on Sevilla on Saturday with Lyon lurking. Madrid hosts the Champions League final this year, and the new Galacticos were built to win the event on their home field.

Real has faltered in the last 16 for years, and needs to break that trend just five days after the crucial league match against Sevilla, an opponent manager Manuel Pellegrini knows will be tough.

"Sevilla are as tough an opponent as all the other teams who have visited the Bernabeu," he said. "They beat us in the first match by playing very well. We hope to return the favor."

Real lost 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan earlier this season to Sevilla, but enters the rematch on a six-game league win streak. Madrid has 22 goals in the stretch. At home, Real has won all 12 of its La Liga matches.

"Every match is different, and both these teams are different than when they first met. Real Madrid have made a lot of progress and Sevilla are in very good form," Pellegrini said. "I hope we can beat them this time round.

"Winning on Saturday is crucial. There are 14 matches left and 42 points in play. We cannot give up as long as there is a mathematical chance. We need to beat Sevilla to stay in the hunt for the title."

Real will not have Karim Benzema or Royston Drenthe available, but Sevilla is still without striker Luis Fabiano. Sevilla could also be without Renato, Adriano and Marius Stankevicius, but Pellegrini doesn't think it matters.

"Sevilla have a very talented squad and it doesn't matter who plays," he said.

Real can't afford to slip up in the league, because Barcelona could open its lead back to five points with a win at Tenerife on Saturday. Deportivo hosts Tenerife in Saturday's other match.

On Sunday, Mallorca hosts Sporting Gijon, Osasuna hosts Getafe, Malaga hosts Xerez, Espanyol hosts Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao hosts Valladolid, and Real Zaragoza hosts Atletico Madrid. On Monday, Valencia hosts Racing.