Source: Eurosport
Heinze: Real must not lose focus
Gabriel Heinze wants Real Madrid to focus on beating his old club Real Valladolid and not be distracted by the forthcoming date with Barcelona.
The Spanish champions trail Primera Division leaders Barca by six points with nine matches remaining and have the chance to take points off Pep Guardiola's team when the sides go head to head in El Clasico at the Bernabeu in three weeks' time.
But Heinze knows victory over their arch rivals would mean little to Juande Ramos' troops if the title is already out of sight and that means winning all four remaining La Liga matches this month.
The Argentina full-back told Real's official website: "We have to win all matches up until the Barcelona game, which is the crucial point as it enables us to cut the gap directly.
"We cannot rely on Barcelona not winning their matches.
"It is our duty to do what we do, which is winning. We just have to win and win, and expect them to lose points," he said.
"This is the only work that remains until the end of the season."
Barca have been in fine form of late, culminating in a midweek 4-0 Champions League romp over Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.
But nobody in the Spanish capital has given up the chase, according to Heinze.
"As long as there are mathematical possibilities, we believe in the comeback," he said.
The 30-year-old admits seeing Barcelona do so well has been hard to take.
"I do not envy but I am a little angry because I represent a very big club and of course I'd like to be there (at the top of the league)," said the former Manchester United man.
Sunday's game takes on extra significance for Heinze as visitors Valladolid was his first team in Spain.
"Yes (it will be a special game) but I defend the (Madrid) colours and hope that the points stay at home," he said.
"The affection is left to one side.
"Valladolid is a city and a club that served me well and I will always be grateful.
"Marcelo trained on his own on Friday but could be back from injury for Sunday's match, while Pepe and Arjen Robben resumed squad training.
Guti has been frozen out in recent weeks and is also expected to sit out the match, while Sergio Ramos is suspended and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ruben de la Red and Mahamadou Diarra are sidelined for the rest of the season.
The other Diarra, Lassana, is back in full training, however, and will play.
Valladolid will be without Jonathan Sesma and Jose Antonio Garcia and have doubts over Luis Prieto and Alvaro Rubio but coach Jose Luis Mendilibar is optimistic the latter duo will be fit.
Mendilibar's ninth-placed team are in the middle of a tricky run of fixtures.
The first two of those - against Sevilla and Barcelona - both ended in defeat.
The Castilians will hope to do better in the next two matches against Madrid and Villarreal - both of whom they have beaten this season - and Mendilibar insists his side will go out all guns blazing tomorrow despite having been humbled 7-0 in the corresponding fixture last term.
"We will not change anything," he said.
"I am convinced we will have chances at the Bernabeu.
"They have improved a lot in attack and, while they may not be as fluid as Barca, their counter-attacks are hard to stop. They have top players capable of scoring at any time."
