Iniesta has faith in Barca's chances

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta insists the club can turn around its poor road form and get right back in the La Liga title race by beating leader Real Madrid on Sunday.

The Catalans currently sit in third place, four points back of Real, having won just one of their last five away games in La Liga.

However, Iniesta believes the Spanish champion showed in its two recent games against Manchester City in the Champions League that it is still capable of beating anyone on any given day.

"We have had bad days, like everyone, but no one can think that Madrid will beat us easily," he told a media conference on Thursday.

"It is difficult to think there are Barca fans that don't believe in us. This team has won the right to believe in it, no matter what the situation."

Barca boss Gerardo Martino will have the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from and looks set to name the side that started the home leg against City for just the second time all season.

That means Neymar and Cesc Fabregas will return after being rested for last weekend's 7-0 romp over Osasuna, with Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez, who struck the winner the last time Barca met Real back in October, relegated to the bench.

And Iniesta is urging his teammates to impose themselves on the game rather than being cowed by the atmosphere at the Bernabeu.

"We need to play a perfect game because that is what the opponent will demand of us - and we are capable of doing so.

"More than thinking about them, we need to think about ourselves. We need to be Barca, to be brave. If we are not, it won't go well for us. When things have gone well, it is because we have played like that."

Madrid hasn't been beaten in 31 games in all competitions since the two sides met at Camp Nou.

That run has allowed Carlo Ancelotti's men to overtake Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, while also progressing to the Copa del Rey final and the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

However, the Italian stressed his team has to be at its best to all but kill off Barcelona's title chances.

"We are in good form and desperate for the game to come around. We know it will be difficult and against a great team," said Ancelotti.

"Since the game in the first half of the season we have improved a lot. We will need to be at our best, though, as you need to be at 100 percent to beat Barcelona."

Real suffered a blow in midweek when 21-year-old forward Jese Rodriguez was ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage in his right knee.

That won't affect Ancelotti's starting lineup, though, as the likes of Luka Modric, Angel di Maria, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will return after being rested from the start in the 3-1 win over Schalke on Wednesday.

The biggest winner of the weekend could be Atletico, as at least one of its title rivals is guaranteed to drop points while it travels to play cellar dweller Real Betis.

Diego Simeone's men will go top for a few hours at least should they win at the Benito Villamarin on Sunday before Real and Barca clash.

Ancelotti warned his Real side not to underestimate Atletico's title challenge, even if it does see off Barcelona.

"It will be an open game, but I don't think it will decide the league because Atletico are there too," said Ancelotti.

"I think the league will be decided in the last game of the season."