Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has insisted that Real Madrid are not out of the La Liga title race despite their poor start to the season.
The Catalan club are already eight points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the table after winning all four of their opening matches, while Madrid have lost twice this campaign.
"They've had a difficult time, but during a full league season there are always good times too, key moments, because it isn't possible to be at 100% for the full nine months of competition," Fabregas told Marca.
"But it's still Madrid, we know it and whether they're on form or not we need to keep being ourselves."
The two sides meet in the league for the first time on October 7 at the Camp Nou.
