El Clasico is looming but Barcelona Coach Tito Vilanova is keeping his focus firmly on tomorrow's Champions League clash with Benfica.
Vilanova and his squad are in Lisbon for the second of three big games in eight days. Last Saturday the Blaugrana came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-2, maintaining their eight point lead in La Liga, and next Sunday they will meet arch rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou, hoping to extend it.
But the former assistant to Pep Guardiola does not see this period as especially significant.
“I do not think this is a key week,” he stated at the pre-match press conference. “We've only just started. Titles won't be won or lost depending on the outcome of these games, they're decided much later.
“The big game is tomorrow, which is ahead of the others. There will be time to think about them. This game is important enough not to think about others. It's a Champions League game, and any mistake can complicate the classification.”
Given the current form of Benfica – who are top of the Portuguese League – and the struggles Barca have had in Lisbon in the past, Vilanova is far from complacent.
“I don't what team they'll play, but the fate of great teams is that if someone is injured they have someone else of an equally high level. Oscar Cardozo is their scorer and is very good, but they also have Rodrigo and Lima.
“Our club has come here with two good teams in the past and failed to score. They are dangerous, and play well on the wings. It's a challenge for our players, but I know that they like challenges.”
The former Real Mallorca defender then discussed the players hoping to recover from injury.
“We will watch [Andres] Iniesta, [Carlos] Puyol and Adriano in training and see how they are. The worst injury is Thiago [Alcantara], for us and for him. He's a player that gives you things that others cannot give.
“Puyol has recovered so quickly because of his mentality. These things do not happen by chance.”