Mallorca, Spain – Barcelona gained four points on Real Madrid in the La Liga title race over the last week, but coach Pep Guardiola admitted this week "six points are a lot to make up."
Barcelona has won six straight matches in La Liga and eight consecutive in all competitions, and took advantage of two straight league draws by Real to close the leaders gap atop the standings.
With Real Madrid still scheduled to visit the Camp Nou, Barcelona has closed a once double-digit deficit to a more manageable six points entering the last 10 matches of the season.
Although Guardiola acknowledged "it won't be easy for us to win the ten games we've got left (because) we're playing opponents with a lot at stake.
"Our only chance is to concentrate on our work. We'll try to be constant and get our job done."
Barcelona visits Mallorca on Saturday ahead of the first game of its Champions League series Wednesday against AC Milan in Italy. Guardiola is confident his club will remained focus on each match, and will remain focused on winning all its fixtures.
"I am sure we won't get distracted. At times we have been 13 points behind, and we have gone out to win all the same.
"We've won three titles this season, and we'll try to win more."
Guardiola will have to juggle his lineup this week with fullbacks Dani Alves, Adriano and Eric Abidal all out. Captain Carles Puyol could move outside, but he could also be rested with the Milan trip on the horizon.
That would leave Guardiola with two young fullbacks, and open the door for the home side to grab a win that would keep it in the hunt for European places. Mallorca is just 12th, but only four points out of sixth.
Real also resumes its Champions League trek after this weekend with the first leg against APOEL on Tuesday, but first the club needs to move past a pair of draws without coach Jose Mourinho, Pepe, Mesut Ozil and Sergio Ramos.
Ozil and Ramos were sent off earlier this week in a 1-1 tie against Villarreal and Mourinho was also booted from the match. Pepe earned a two-match ban for a post-game comment made to the referee.
Unbeaten in 13 in all competitions since a 2-1 loss to Barcelona on Jan. 18 in the Copa del Rey, Real cannot afford another slip-up with its main challengers now within striking distance.
Real defender Marcelo still put his side's cushion in perspective this week as he said: "Every team would like to have a six point lead. There's no pressure and any team would like to be where we are now. We're fine."
That could change this weekend.
Also Saturday, Getafe hosts Valencia. On Sunday, Real Zaragoza hosts Atletico Madrid, Espanyol hosts Malaga, Levante hosts Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao hosts Sporting Gijon, Rayo Vallecano hosts Villarreal, and Real Betis hosts Racing. And on Monday, Granada hosts Sevilla.
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