RIJKAARD REFUSES TO GIVE UP

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has come out and said that his club is still in the title hunt and said that the title race is far from over.Real Madrid have extended their lead in the Primera Liga with nine points lead.Real Madrid won over Villareal 3-2 and Barcelona drew with Athletico Bilbao 1-1 to give Real Madrid 9 point lead in the standings.

Real also have a favourable run-in, where out of the current top 11 sides in the division they only have to play Racing Santander and Almeria away from their Bernabeu home, where they have won all 10 league games this season.

Rijkaard is not about to throw the towel in just yet, though, although he did admit Sunday's draw at San Mames was "a psychological blow for the team" after seeing Athletic net a 79th-minute equaliser through Fernando Llorente.

"We cannot say that we are going to relinquish anything.

"We have to look at ourselves and concentrate on our work. We have to continue working and fighting hard."

Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta added on his club's website: "We will not say goodbye to the league until it is mathematically over. There still remain a lot of matches."