Real Madrid focused on Athletic Bilbao

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid lost another "El Clasico" earlier this week against Barcelona, but Jose Mourinho's club still has an edge on its rival in La Liga.

So after the 2-1 loss at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos admitted "we must now think about La Liga." Even with the second game of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal series Wednesday in Barcelona.

Real has rarely looked down on Barcelona in the past three years, as Barca and manager Pep Guardiola have won three straight La Liga titles.

After 18 matches this season, however, Real holds a five-point cushion despite a 3-1 home loss in league play against Barcelona in early December.

Real's latest loss to Barca was even tougher considering it led early, but two Barca goals left Mourinho once again trying to figure out his main rival.

But with continued great form in La Liga, starting with Sunday's match at the Bernabeu against Athletic Bilbao, Real could snatch the title away without one win - or even a draw - against Barca.

Bilbao has been in good form, winning three straight in all competitions, and sits fifth in the table, albeit 20 points off the pace of Real. With Real most likely to pick up three more points, Barca is under pressure to win as well.

"We can't afford to make any mistakes," Barca's Gerard Pique said.

Barcelona visits Malaga on Sunday, but even with four wins in its last five in La Liga, has not been able to gain much ground on Real, which has four wins in its last five and 13 in its last 14.

Still, Real's Esteban Granero admitted "we'll have to change our mentality to win Sunday's league match" to rebound from the loss to Barca.

Barca and Pique remain confident, both for this weekend's La Liga match, and a second-leg win over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

"When we are ourselves, there's no team that can stop us ... If we play like we are playing now, we can win titles, and be the best team in the world once again," Pique said.

Barcelona must play better on the road to catch Real, as it has dropped 11 out of a possible 24 points away from the Camp Nou this season.

While Real and Barca slug it out for the top two spots, Valencia will fight to maintain its cushion for third when it visits Osasuna on Sunday. Fourth-place Levante hosts last-place Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

On Saturday, Espanyol hosts Granada, Racing hosts Getafe, Real Sociedad hosts Atletico Madrid, and Real Betis hosts Sevilla. Also Sunday, Rayo Vallecano hosts Mallorca, while struggling Villarreal hosts Sporting Gijon on Monday.