Barca hoping pressure will tell on new leaders Real

MADRID, May 14 (Reuters) After surrendering the Primera Liga leadership to Real Madrid with four games to play, Barcelona are clinging to the hope that the pressure will now take its toll on their arch-rivals.

''I'm confident that Real will slip up, now they've got to cope with the strain of being leaders,'' Barca midfielder Xavi told reporters after his side's 1-1 draw at home to Real Betis.

''There are still plenty of twists left in the title race and it is going to go right to the wire. There are 12 points left to play for and if I didn't think Real would slip up I would go home right now.'' Real snatched top spot on Saturday after an 89th-minute goal from Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain earned them a last-ditch 4-3 comeback win over UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol.

Barca looked as though they would reclaim the leadership after going ahead early on against Betis through a Ronaldinho penalty, but they failed to press home their advantage and paid the price two minutes from time.

The Barca back four were caught off guard by a quickly taken free kick by Marcos Assuncao and fellow Brazilian Rafael Sobis took advantage to blast home an equaliser at the near post.

The draw ended a wretched week for the Catalans who saw their dreams of a double go up in smoke on Thursday when they were dealt a humiliating 4-0 defeat by Getafe in the semi-finals of the King's Cup.

''We all wanted to make up for what happened in Getafe,'' said keeper Victor Valdes.

''But the whole team messed up at the end when we lost concentration at that free kick. We had our chances, but when you don't put them away you are always playing a risky game.'' Captain Carles Puyol insisted that Barca would bounce back to win the title.

''I can't see Real winning all of their remaining games,'' said the defender. ''We certainly won't be throwing in the towel.

We will be treating every game as a final.'' Real, who are level on points with Barcelona but lead the table by virtue of their better head-to-head record, are away to seventh-placed Recreativo Huelva yesterday, while Barca face their bogey team Atletico Madrid at the Calderon.

Reuters BJR RS1457