Real in bullish mood ahead of Sevilla showdown

MADRID, May 3 (Reuters) Real Madrid are convinced they can knock Sevilla out of the title race and take over at the top of the Primera Liga by beating them at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

Morale is sky-high at Real after their 4-1 win at Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

They are confident that a faltering Barcelona will slip up on their trip to relegation-threatened Real Sociedad on Saturday and hand Real the chance to snatch top spot at a crucial stage of the season.

''We are stronger than anyone else at the moment and we showed that with our win at San Mames,'' Real right back Cicinho said this week.

''Barcelona have been giving a sensation of weakness recently and I think they will lose at Anoeta. We will beat Sevilla and once we get to the top no one will shift us from there.'' Just two points separate the top three with six games left.

Barca, who are looking to wrap up a third title in a row, lead on 62 points, Sevilla follow on 61 and Real have 60.

''The title race is turning out to be very tight and very exciting,'' Real striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said after taking his tally for the season to 18 goals with a double in last week's win at Bilbao.

''It is clear that the game against Sevilla is crucial, but if we play at this level we can beat them and win the title.'' Real are, however, likely to be missing David Beckham who has played a decisive role in their last two victories.

BECKHAM APPEAL The former England captain is suspended after picking up a booking for time-wasting last week, but the club have launched an appeal to have the card overturned so that he can play in Sunday's match.

While Real have been talking up their title chances, Sevilla have had their minds on defending their UEFA Cup crown.

Juande Ramos's side face Osasuna in the return leg of their semi-final on Thursday and only then will they turn their attention to the clash at the Bernabeu.

''If we go through against Osasuna it will be a great confidence boost and if not then we will be putting everything into winning the league,'' said striker Frederic Kanoute.

''Either way we will be 100 per cent against Real.'' Despite scoring just twice in their last four games and winning only one of their last 10 away matches, Barcelona insist they are not cracking under the pressure.

''This team has been winning things for the last three seasons and we will win the league and the (King's) Cup this season,'' Brazilian midfielder Edmilson told a news conference yesterday.

''We are focused on the games that are left to play and our objective is to get three points from every one of them. If we win them we will be champions.'' Although Sociedad have made a strong bid to save themselves from the drop, they are still three points from safety, but coach Miguel Angel Lotina believes that Barca are not as strong as they have been in past seasons.

''Two years ago we were all talking about Barca's hunger for trophies, but we are all human and maybe subconsciously they don't have that hunger any more,'' he told daily Sport.

REUTERS BJR HS1453