Marcelo: 'We must respond'

Real Madrid defender Marcelo has admitted that his side cannot afford too many slip-ups in the race for the La Liga title this season.

The capital outfit were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal on Sunday as they missed the chance to go four points clear of second-placed Barcelona.

Marcelo, however, is confident that the league leaders will bounce back away to Athletic Bilbao next weekend.

"Winning would have been an important step," he told the club's official website. "We tried to do everything, we fought and ran, we had several chances but the ball has not gone in.

"We are saddened by the result. Every game is like a final for us and we will try to win against Athletic Bilbao.

"We'll see what we have failed against Villarreal to ensure we do not repeat it. We know that only depend on ourselves and we must work to win."

Sunday's result at the Bernabeu was Real Madrid's first league draw of the season.