Barcelona s Lionel Messi said he and his team-mates understand the importance of getting three points against arch-rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalans currently trail Jose Mourinho s side by three points in the La Liga standings, having played one game more.
And Messi knows that with Real currently on a 14-game winning streak, Barca can ill afford to lose at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
It s going to be a fantastic match, Messi told Fifa.com. Obviously it s vital we get a good result because it’ll set us up for the rest of the season.
If we don t, then we re not going to have much time to relax because we ve got the trip to Japan (for the Club World Cup) coming up, which is very important for us too.
Indeed, Messi insists that he and his team-mates have attached great importance to reclaiming the trophy they lifted in 2009.
It s great to play in a Club World Cup and it s an important tournament for us, he said.
We ve got some lovely memories of the last one we played in and we can t wait to experience that again and celebrate in the same style.
Despite the presence of Santos, Barca are the overwhelming favourites to prevail and Messi accepts that the pressure is once again on the European champions to deliver.
We re always under the obligation to win, he said. To my mind, it s a really important tournament and we ll try to come out on top, just as we always do.
We can t afford to relax either. Everyone thought the two favourites were going to reach the final last time and Internacional fell short.
On a personal level, Messi could also land some more silverware in January, with the diminutive No. 10 again in the running for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, which he lifted last season.
Messi is honoured by the fact that he has been shortlisted alongside team-mate Xavi and Madrid s Cristiano Ronaldo for the accolade, but insists that team trophies still mean more to him.
As I ve always said, it s great to win individual awards, especially the prestigious ones, but what comes first for me is winning matches and titles, Messi said.
Barcelona will kick off their Club World Cup campaign in Yokohama on December 15 against the winner of the clash between Esperance and Al Sadd.
