Clasico leaves Real Madrid and Barca vulnerable to distractions

Barcelona and Real Madrid could be playing to be first in La Liga over Christmas break on Wednesday but both are at risk of pre-Clasico defeats if ir focus wavers this weekend. re are few tougher fixtures in league than Barca's away at free-flowing fourth-placed Real Sociedad on Saturday or Madrid's trip on Sunday to a revived Valencia, who have won three games on bounce and beat Ajax in Amsterdam to win ir group in Champions League. Already qualified in Europe, Barcelona and Real Madrid had luxury of rotating key players in midweek but as emphasis shifts towards ir crunch meeting at Camp u, danger is that y underestimate tasks in front of m.

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Both have hit ir stride in recent weeks, pulling away from chasing pack while leaving behind early-season bumps that had placed futures of ir coaches in doubt. Barcelona have won 13 of ir last 15 games and seven out of ir last seven, a run that has coincided with return to form and fitness of Lionel Messi, who has 14 goals and two hat-tricks in his last 11 matches. Madrid, meanwhile, have won nine out of ir last 12, If ir own surge has been slightly less consistent than Barca's in terms of results, ir performances have been more convincing. In ir last 10 games, y have scored 28 goals and conceded only five.

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In rmal circumstances, both might refore have been expected to come away from Aeta and Mestalla with victories but each have reason to be wary. Off pitch, threat of political unrest around Clasico lingers, with Catalan independence demonstrations expected at Camp u both before and during game next week. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu called for calm on Thursday and insisted match would t be postponed again but, with families and friends in city and likely to attend game, it would be understandable if his players' minds were t fully on football this weekend. Valencia and Real Sociedad are hardly opponents to be taken lightly eir.

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Signs of resurgence

Under Albert Celades, Valencia are showing signs of a resurgence, having won six out of ir last eight, two slips owing to a last-minute goal against Real Betis and a hatful of chances missed against Chelsea. At Mestalla, y have lost only once in ir last five meetings with Real Madrid. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, have arguably been most attractive team to watch in division this season, even if ir strong start has faded in recent weeks.

y will also attack Barcelona, who have repeatedly been proven vulnerable against sides with pace and ambition on break. A slip for eir of top two could play into hands of Sevilla, who are at home to Villarreal on Sunday, or Atletico Madrid, who host Osasuna on Saturday, fresh from ir morale-boosting win over Lokomotiv Moscow in Champions League. Getafe, in fifth, play early game on Sunday at home to Real Valladolid. 

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