Casillas keen for La Liga turnaround

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has urged his team-mates to turn their focus to La Liga again as they look to bridge the gap on Barcelona.

The Spanish champions sit third in the Primera Division table, trailing their arch-rivals by 11 points, while Atletico Madrid are five points ahead of Real in second place, but Casillas has not given up hope of getting back in the title race just yet.

“It is a shame we are so far behind Barcelona and Atleti, but that’s the way things stand and that’s what we have to aim to beat,” the goalkeeper told the official Madrid website.

“What we need to do now is focus our attention on La Liga and the cup. We must cut the points difference with the teams above us.”

Casillas then went on to discuss his side’s Champions League campaign and revealed his belief that Real will be faced with a difficult draw in the knockout phase.

“The opponent will be tough, but there’s plenty of time from now until February to get ready,” he said.

The draw for the first knockout stage takes place on December 20 in Nyon, Switzerland.