Bernd Schuster has already wrote off Real Madrid's chances of victory at Barcelona next week. Defeat to Sevilla last night left Real nine points behind the Liga leaders and defeat at the Nou Camp next week could spell the end of their title hopes for this season.

But there were no fighting words from Schuster as he conceded: "I'm worrying less about this than any other game. Now you cannot win there.

"Barcelona is very good, outstanding.

"We're going to try, we'll try to do a good job. But it's needless to talk about this right now."

Asked if he would resign, Schuster snapped: "There is no reason for me to resign. I see my players giving their all. We just needed luck at the right time."