Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has warned his teammates that they must cut Barcelona's La Liga lead before the winter break.
Madrid are 11 points behind their unbeaten Catalan rivals, which has cast doubts over the future of manager Jose Mourinho beyond the end of the season.
Los Blancos responded by defeating Atletico Madrid 2-0 last Saturday and Ajax 4-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. European duties are now on hold for two months and Casillas thinks his side should use this time to kickstart their league season.
"We have targets set for the end of the year," the goalkeeper told Real Madrid's official website.
"It is perhaps a pity that the distance between us and Atletico in the league, despite having reduced it last weekend, and with Barcelona, is quite big. But we have made it through to the next round of the Champions League; between now and February there will be time to prepare."
Madrid travel to Real Valladolid in the league on Saturday evening.
Steven Toplis
