Real Madrid are favourites to beat Barcelona this weekend, says skipper Raul.

"At the Bernabeu, Real Madrid are always favourites," said the in-form striker. "We have faith in our work and we know we can hurt them.

"Barca are first on merit, there's no argument against that. We have reached an excellent position after months of hard work and people did not think it was possible. Now there is a chance to clinch the title."

Asked about Barca concerns that Real will seek to bully Lionel Messi out of the game, Raul shrugged: "It is normal to give him more of a kick than others, he will have to take some more.

"He's a player who we must try to stop, but I do not see it as over-aggressiveness."