Intensity the key to continued success in league, says Xavi

Midfielder Xavi Hernandez believes Barcelona has to recover the intensity in its play if it is to avoid a first league defeat of the season when it travels to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The Catalans were beaten for the first time in 21 games since Gerardo Martino took charge in July on Tuesday as they produced an insipid display in going down 2-1 to Ajax in Amsterdam in the Champions League.

That defeat was the first sign Barca could be missing the influence of the injured Lionel Messi and Victor Valdes, but Xavi insisted those that are available have to show the right attitude when they face Athletic.

"They are important players and you are going to miss them, but that wasn't the principal reason for the defeat. We didn't do enough to win.

"We need to have intensity from the start and in San Mames it will be another test.

"We need to turn it around and go for it from the off with that intensity that we lacked (against Ajax)."

Barca is likely to also be without fullbacks Adriano, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves on Sunday, but Sergio Busquets and Alexis Sanchez will return after being rested midweek.

Athletic has also had an impressive start to its campaign as Monday's 2-1 win over Malaga moved it to within a point of Villarreal in the final Champions League spot.

Ernesto Valverde's side is unbeaten at home since the opening of the new San Mames in September with four wins and two draws from six games at the venue.

The visit of the league leader will prove its biggest test to date, but striker Aritz Aduriz is hoping it can take advantage of Barca's series of injuries.

"They are very important players for them. We will see if we are capable of taking advantage of it, although the other players have all it takes to replace them," he told sports daily Marca.

"To me they seem just as good as always. Until now they have won almost every game. Their level is just as good if not better than in previous seasons."

Real Madrid has the chance to cut its gap to Barcelona to three points for 24 hours at least when it hosts Valladolid on Saturday.

Carlo Ancelotti's men continued their free-scoring form with a 4-1 destruction of Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday despite playing the majority of the match with just 10 men.

Madrid has scored 26 times in its past six games at home and in Europe and could be boosted by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese missed Wednesday's game due to a slight muscle strain, but Ancelotti confirmed the player is confident he will be fit in time to face Valladolid.

And even if La Liga's top scorer doesn't make it, Valladolid boss Juan Ignacio Martinez is aware of the daunting task facing his side.

"It is very difficult to get anything there because they are very good and, moreover, they have gained a lot since the return of Xabi Alonso," he said.

"We will try to compete well and hopefully remove the bad taste in our mouth we had after defeat in the last game against Osasuna."

Second-placed Atletico Madrid is also in action on Saturday - away to Elche - as it too can put the pressure on Barcelona by moving level on points with the Catalans.

(China Daily 11/30/2013 page16)