AFI nod must for overseas training

Hansi Flick called on his Barcelona players to brush off their Champions League semi-final elimination and bounce back against Real Madrid on Sunday in a vital La Liga Clasico.

- Agencies

BARCELONA: Barca lead the Spanish top flight by four points ahead of rivals and defending champions Real Madrid with four matches remaining.

The Catalans were ousted in Europe on Tuesday by Inter Milan, ending dreams of a potential quadruple.

"We spoke about what they (the players) are thinking, what they are feeling, it's important in a group that we speak about that," Flick told a news conference Saturday.

"Everyone knows that in a Clasico you have to be on your highest level, that's what we have to do.

"We want to be active, we want to see the team (play) with intensity on the pitch, dominant as normal, and we know it's a really fantastic team from Real (against us)."

Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid in all three Clasicos played this season, beginning with a 4-0 win in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

The Catalans then thrashed Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January and edged them 3-2 in extra-time in the Copa del Rey final in April.