La Liga title slipping away from Meringues really fast

situations I’ve experienced here,” added the 29-year-old, who has been with the club for over a decade. “We’ll try to work hard and fight so we can win our next game but we don’t like this situation at all, it’s difficult because the more games you draw or lose the more pressure you are under.” The last time Real were 16 points behind the Liga leaders was during Jose Mourinho’s tensionfilled final campaign in 2012/13, when they finished 15 points adrift of the Catalans. “There’s nothing else we can do other than keep our heads up and fight and do our best to start winning again,” added Marcelo, who has won four La Liga and three Champions League titles since joining Real in 2007.

“We can’t do anything more, we’re trying to play good football, to move the ball around and score goals but it’s not coming off.”

Real coach Zidane usually leaps to the defence of his players after negative results but he was not in a forgiving mood on Sunday.

“The main thing we lacked (on Sunday) was we didn’t play the second half,” said the Frenchman. “We played very well in the first 45 minutes but not in the second half and a game lasts 90 minutes.”

Zidane also refused to comment on whether or not his side were out of the title race.

“We’re not going to talk about the league every weekend. If we keep losing points we’re not going to get there. We have to focus on each game now and try to win them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippe Coutinho’s versatility makes him a great acquisition for Barcelona, coach Ernesto Valverde said on Sunday as the Brazilian made his first public appearance at the Nou Camp following his £142 million (about R2.4bn) move from Liverpool.

“I think he will give us many things – he has a good goal-scoring record, he gives assists, he’ll be able to help us a lot in attack and can play in the middle or on the wing,” Valverde said.

The coach has yet to decide where the new signing will fit into his fluid side, who are unbeaten in the Liga and Champions League.

“He’s versatile and we can make the most of that. We’re going to see how he trains first and then we’ll decide,” Valverde said.

“I’ve seen him play in a lot of positions for Liverpool and for his country, although I don’t imagine we’ll be putting him in goal.”

Barca beat Levante 3-0 at home on Sunday with goals from Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paulinho, to stay nine points clear at the top of the La Liga standings. – Reuters