Benzema: Classico won't distract us

Karim Benzema is adamant La Liga leaders Real Madrid are fully focused on tomorrow's trip to struggling Sporting Gijon and not the following week's Clasico with arch-rivals Barcelona. Madrid and Barça will undoubtedly contest the title come May and the significance of the result at the Bernabeu on 10 December cannot be underestimated. However, Madrid are determined to go into the encounter with at least a three-point advantage, something they will guarantee with a victory in Gijon. France international Benzema told the AS newspaper: "Sporting comes first. It will be a tough game because they are in need of points. We don't want to dwell on the Barcelona game and talk about them. We know they are one of the best teams in the world but I will tell you one thing: we are ready for the challenge." Benzema has started the last three games for Jose Mourinho's men and is hoping he can keep his place for the trip to El Molinon and the Barça clash which sandwich a UEFA Champions League trip to Ajax. "I am ready to play but we have a large squad and there are many players here who could be called upon to play Barça," he said. "I will work hard, I have the coach's trust and I am happy to have played the last three games." The last time the sides met, Sporting secured a stunning 1-0 triumph in Madrid - a result which had implications in the title race as Los Merengues lost out to Barça. And Sporting midfielder Alberto Rivera is confident the home side can again cause problems for their more illustrious rivals. He said: "Do not just look at that game because we won, I believe that in recent years we have always known what to do against Madrid. We need to come out firing, push hard and then take the chances that come our way to beat a team of their calibre." Rivera, who started his career at Madrid but made just three first-team appearances, has been impressed by their table-topping form. "They are perhaps the fittest team in Europe," he said. "This year they have greatly improved and eradicated the problems they had last year. They are a much more complete team." Sporting go into the game in the relegation zone having lost 4-0 at Levante last weekend.