体坛英语新闻：Puyol ready for Clasico but wary of Real Madrid

MADRID, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said on Thursday that he doesn t believe that Saturday's Clasico at home to Real Madrid in the Camp Nou Stadium will be decisive in the final destination of the BBVA Primera Liga title.

Puyol returned to action for Barca last Saturday after seven months out of action with a serious knee injury and the 34 year-old could find himself in this Saturday's side if Gerard Pique fails to recover from a pelvic injury which has stopped him training with his companions for the last two days, but for the moment he prefers not to think about whether or not he will play in the big game.

"I am grateful for the confidence placed in me, but we have three more central defenders and they are all playing well," said Puyol, who was nevertheless pleased at his return from injury.

"If I feel happy just to train again, imagine how I would feel if I could play the Clasico. I feel good and I have worked well in the last week. I had been worried about how my injury would react and it was a lot better than I expected," he said.

Barca go into the game with eight wins and just one draw from their opening nine games of the season and the chance to open a six point lead over Real Madrid, but Puyol doesn't believe one game will decide the fate of an entire season.

"We have the chance to play well, but the league is not going to be decided. We have to play well, gain in confidence for the games that lie ahead," he said, although he also admitted that Real Madrid, "are our maximum rival and the result will have big repercussions."

The defender warned that Madrid were always a threat on the break and said he thought the side coached by Carlo Ancelotti was improving as the season progresses, although, "We go into the game after failing to win two matches (Osasuna and AC Milan), but we have a lot of confidence and a big desire to win."

The last time the two sides met in the Camp Nou, Real Madrid inflicted a painful 3-1 defeat on a tired Barca in the Copa del Rey and Puyol said playing in front of a packed Camp Nou was not necessarily an advantage.

"The fans can be a help, but in recent years Real Madrid have played very well here and we have to be careful," he said.

Finally, Puyol had words of praise for young defender, Marc Bartra, who has been in excellent form in recent matches.

"Whether he plays or not is down to the coach (Tata Martino), but I have always had a lot of confidence in him. You can never lose confidence in anyone and I hope we have a defender who will play for many years with Barca," he said.