Sporting de Gijon vs Real Madrid preview - Benzema focused on Sporting
Posted Saturday, December 03, 2011 by PA
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is adamant the Primera Division leaders are fully focused on the trip to struggling Sporting Gijon and not the following week's Clasico with arch-rivals Barcelona.
Madrid and Barca will undoubtedly contest the title come May and the significance of the result at the Bernabeu on December 10 cannot be underestimated.
However, Madrid are determined to go into the encounter with at least a three-point advantage, something they will guarantee with a victory in Gijon.
France international Benzema told the AS newspaper: "Sporting comes first. It will be a tough game because they are in need of points.
"We don't want to dwell on the Barcelona game and talk about them.
"We know they are one of the best teams in the world but I will tell you one thing: we are ready for the challenge."
Benzema has started the last three games for Jose Mourinho's men and is hoping he can keep his place for the trip to El Molinon and the Barca clash which sandwich a Champions League trip to Ajax.
"I am ready to play but we have a large squad and there are many players here who could be called upon to play Barca," he said.
"I will work hard, I have the coach's trust and I am happy to have played the last three games."
The last time the sides met, Sporting secured a stunning 1-0 triumph in Madrid - a result which had implications in the title race as Los Merengues lost out to Barca.
And Sporting midfielder Alberto Rivera is confident the home side can again cause problems for their more illustrious rivals.
He said: "Do not just look at that game because we won, I believe that in recent years we have always known what to do against Madrid.
"We need to come out firing, push hard and then take the chances that come our way to beat a team of their calibre."
Rivera, who started his career at Madrid but made just three first-team appearances, has been impressed by their table-topping form.
"They are perhaps the fittest team in Europe," he said.
"This year they have greatly improved and eradicated the problems they had last year. They are a much more complete team."
Sporting go into the game in the relegation zone having lost 4-0 at Levante last weekend.
Coach Manuel Preciado, who has been involved with a lengthy verbal spat with Mourinho, is hoping for a reaction.
He told reporters at a press conference: "There is anger at our latest result because we know we did not give a good impression.
"I won't give clues about possible changes. I know what to do but the players don't know yet."
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