Busquets would prefer to play

Sergio Busquets believes that having additional time to prepare for league matches may be detrimental to Barcelona.

The midfielder reflected on Barca's first La Liga defeat of the campaign against Atletico Madrid at the weekend and dismissed suggestions that the team have relaxed since going out of the Copa del Rey in January.

It was suggested that Barca would benefit from their cup elimination due to a decrease in fixtures, but Busquets does not think that is the case.

"We haven't relaxed," he said. "But we notice that we have more time to prepare for matches and training sessions are rather more physical.

"It's a different situation where you disconnect more from the matches. Footballers prefer to play every two or three days."

Barcelona may be playing fewer games, but their injury list has continued to grow at a critical time of the season.

Fitness problems

However, Busquets does not think fitness problems are having a major impact among Pep Guardiola's squad.

"We know that injuries are a delicate matter," he added. "Some injuries have an explanation while others just happen.

"Every player thinks about his fitness. Those of us that are fit have to give 100 per cent and play well and I do not think that any of the players are obsessed about this."

A meeting with arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu is on Barca's horizon and Busquets recognises that El Classico could be the decisive encounter in the title race.

"I think it will be one of our most important matches because it's against one of our direct rivals for the league title," he said.

"If the gap between the two teams is one or two points, the league will be half lost or half won in the Bernabeu. But until then we still have a lot to do."

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