Ancelotti: Barcelona not direct rivals for Real Madrid

<div class&equals;"first-sentence-half">&NewLine;<h4><span style&equals;"font-size&colon; 14pt&semi; color&colon; var&lpar;--c-contrast-800&rpar;&semi;">Barcelona is not a direct opponent of Real Madrid this season&comma; according to Carlo Ancelotti&comma; because they are too far down the standings&period;<&sol;span><&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;"><img class&equals;"alignnone size-medium wp-image-15693" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;thedailypage&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;12&sol;images-86&lowbar;resize&lowbar;19-300x200&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"200" &sol;><&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">After 16 games&comma; the Camp Nou side is in seventh place in La Liga&comma; 18 points behind champions Real Madrid&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">Despite his team&&num;8217&semi;s troubles this season&comma; Xavi thinks that they are still in contention for the Spanish league crown&comma; but Ancelotti is unconcerned about their Clasico opponents&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">When asked about Xavi&&num;8217&semi;s remarks at a news conference on Saturday&comma; Ancelotti stated that Sevilla and Real Betis pose a greater threat than Barcelona&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">He noted that&comma; Barca are no longer direct competitors since other teams&comma; like as Sevilla or Betis&comma; are closer&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">Ancelotti&&num;8217&semi;s side has gone 13 games without losing in all competitions&comma; winning each of their past ten&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">In the Spanish first tier&comma; they are eight points clear of second-placed Sevilla&comma; despite Julen Lopetegui&&num;8217&semi;s side having a game in hand&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">Madrid will play Cadiz in La Liga on Sunday&comma; but some players will be absent because to a Covid-19 outbreak among the squad&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">Barca&comma; on the other hand&comma; is winless in their previous three competitive matches and recorded a win over Elche on Saturday at Camp Nou&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span style&equals;"font-weight&colon; 400&semi; font-size&colon; 14pt&semi;">Due to injuries&comma; Ansu Fati&comma; Pedri&comma; Memphis Depay&comma; and Sergi Roberto are all expected to miss the match&comma; while Gerard Pique is suspended&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;