Barca and Real look for solace

Arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have little time to brood over their painful European defeats as they go head-to-head at the Nou Camp tonight.

Barca's hopes of retaining their Champions League crown went up in smoke when they failed to match the intensity and determination of Rafael Benitez's Liverpool over the two legs of their first knockout round tie.

The away goals defeat on Tuesday completed a bruising week for Frank Rijkaard's side who lost the leadership of the Primera Liga last Saturday as they went down 2-1 at title rivals Sevilla.

Barca's defeat against Liverpool was yet another example of the Catalans' failure to perform on the big stage this season.

They were second best to Sevilla in the European Super Cup, lost to Real at the Bernabeu, went down to Chelsea in the Champions League group stage at Stamford Bridge and came unstuck against Internacional in the World Club Championship final.

Their Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen said the team had to work harder if they were to perform on the big occasions.

"This side lacks team spirit. We have to be prepared to make more sacrifices," he told a news conference.

Real are still licking their wounds after falling victim to old foes Bayern Munich in Wednesday's Champions League return match, losing for the eighth time in nine visits to the German giants as they stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena.

With sporting director Predrag Mijatovic giving coach Fabio Capello only lukewarm support after the Bayern defeat a further setback today will almost certainly spell the end for the Italian.

Out of the Champions League and King's Cup and five points behind Barca in the title race, another defeat would effectively destroy Real's hopes of winning the Primera Liga and breaking their four-year trophy duck.

With the big two battling to save face after their European disappointments, leaders Sevilla will hope to take advantage when they visit relegation-threatened Gimnastic tomorrow.