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LFP: Real's 'moment of truth' arrives at home to Sevilla

Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez reacts during their Spanish La Liga match against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid last Sunday. Valencia won 3-2. PHOTO: AP

Arjen Robben insists Real Madrid are not in a crisis, but the statistics suggest otherwise, with the champions losing five league matches since the turn of the year and their lead at the top sliced to just four points.

Real host Sevilla tomorrow aiming to rediscover the winning feeling after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia.

"The moment of truth has arrived," Real captain Raul Gonzalez said. "If we lose a match now our rivals will probably close in on us. We have to work hard to maintain our advantage."

Real's form has led to questions about the future of coach Bernd Schuster -- who accused his team of being too gung-ho last weekend -- but the German says he has guarantees that he will keep his job even if he fails to deliver the title.

"Not so long ago Ramon Calderon [Real Madrid president] told me that even if we don't win the league I will continue at Real because this is a project and we are building a team," Schuster said.

Sevilla are seeking a league double over Real -- having beaten them 2-0 earlier in the campaign -- and desperately need the points in their chase for a Champions League spot with Atletico Madrid currently five points ahead in fourth.

"It is always great to play Real Madrid and there is added motivation for this game," Sevilla forward Frederic Kanoute said. "They are inconsistent at the moment and perhaps we can take advantage of that."

Barcelona are four points behind Real heading into the home straight and can close to within a single point of their arch rivals with victory over Real Betis tonight.

The match will be played at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium after Betis were banned from playing two home matches after Athletic Bilbao keeper Armando suffered face injuries from a bottle thrown by a Betis fan.

Barcelona have been erratic this season and Brazilian left back Sylvinho called for his side to start doing their talking on the pitch.

"If we do our job properly every Sunday we can win the league," Sylvinho said. "However just talking the talk doesn't convince anyone. That's why we've got to walk the walk on the pitch."

Villarreal have emerged as dark horses for this title after garnering 21 points from a possible 30 this year and are six points off Real in third.

Villarreal's title credentials will be put to the test today when they entertain fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

"The fact that some people are saying we could win the league is incredible," Villarreal's Gonzalo Rodriguez said. "But we have to keep our feet on the ground and focus on our objective of qualifying for the Champions League."

If Villarreal can beat Atletico they would move nine points clear of their rivals, but old boy Diego Forlan, who spent three years at the club before joining Atletico in the summer, is hoping to gun down his former club.

"I hope Villarreal is not the team we have seen recently because otherwise they could win and put us further away from our objectives," Forlan said. "I had a very good three years there and I still maintain good relationships at the club. I hope for a good reception because it is like a home to me."

It is a weekend of big games in the Spanish top-flight with Racing Santander traveling to Espanyol tomorrow in another Champions League duel.

Racing are three points behind Atletico while Espanyol are two points back in seventh.

Espanyol were thumped 4-0 by Real Murcia last weekend and coach Ernesto Valverde will want a reaction in a game they can not afford to lose.
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