Real Madrid cannot afford to start thinking about the second leg of their Champions League tie with Liverpool until they have dealt with city rivals Atletico, coach Juande Ramos has warned.
Saturday's Madrid derby at the Bernabeu comes three days before the champions travel to Anfield to try and overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Winning a 10th European Cup is Real's number one priority, although their improving form domestically - where they have racked up 10 consecutive victories - has them very much in the running for a third consecutive league title.
Last week's 2-0 win at Espanyol, combined with Barca's 4-3 reverse against Atletico saw Real close the gap on the leaders to four points. Three weeks ago they were 12 points adrift of the Catalans.
"The match at Anfield is of vital importance but to play a city derby at home against Atletico, bearing in mind our league position, means we can't afford not to take it seriously," Ramos said.
"In Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero, and Maxi Rodriguez and Simao Sabrosa, Atletico have two strikers and two wide players that give them one of the best attacks in European football.
"We have to be on the top of our game. Coaches can talk to their players and warn them of the dangers, but it isn't possible to control talent. We have work hard and will try to leave them isolated."
Ramos is forced into changes in his defence, who have only conceded twice in their past 10 league games, with Pepe suspended. Sergio Ramos is expected to move into the centre with Michel Salgado coming in at right back.
Wesley Sneijder is also suspended which could see Guti start in midfield.
Fifth-placed Atletico are also on a high after their storming fightback to beat Barcelona 4-3 at the Vicente Calderon last Sunday.
The Rojiblancos put in a typical Jekyll and Hyde performance full of defensive errors and brilliant attacking play to overcome the Catalans with an 89th-minute winner from Aguero, but are unlikely to be given the same amount of space against Real.
Atletico also have to overcome their woeful form in city derbies where they have not registered a win in 10 years.
New coach Abel Resino, who has been at the helm for five matches, shrugged off the talk of Atletico's poor record.
"The Bernabeu is the ground in which I have registered the highest number of wins," he said.
"I won there as a coach with Levante, and as a player with Atletico and Rayo Vallecano. I'm quite relaxed about it.
"Real are a great team, very pragmatic, and are also in very good form, but if you go out on to the pitch fearful of the outcome you will lose for sure. Their recent run has given them balance and confidence, but that doesn't mean we can't upset the statistics."
Resino will be without suspended midfielder Raul Garcia which could see Maniche return to the starting 11. Luis Perea has returned from injury and could come in at right back.
Next Wednesday, Atletico travel to Porto in the Champions League with their tie level at 2-2.
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