BARCELONA: Striker David Villa insisted Barcelona cannot afford to relax as they prepare to continue their winning start this season to the Champions League this week.

The Blaugrana came from two goals down to beat Sevilla 3-2 in a dramatic Primera Liga clash on Saturday, with Villa grabbing the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

The 30-year-old admitted he was relieved to have helped Barca earn the victory, and has called on the team to show the same kind of commitment when they take on Benfica in the Champions League in Lisbon.

“I’m happy I was able to help the team in the little time I had," said Villa. "Sevilla fought hard and they played well. Thank God that I was able to finish off some good teamplay. We’re taking the three points.

“It’s now time to focus on another competition. We’re very pleased to leave here with such an important result and now we have to focus on the match in Lisbon. It’s an important and difficult match and that’s why we can’t afford ourselves the luxury to relax. We want the three points.”

Defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets echoed the sentiments of his compatriot, warning that Barca will face a tough test at Estadio da Luz.

“We are eager to win so that we can preserve our perfect start in the Champions League," said the 24-year-old.

"We want to win but we know that they are a very difficult team and they have quality players, especially up front.”

Cesc Fabregas came in for criticism from some quarters after the Sevilla match, after claims that he went to ground too easily during a confrontation with Gary Medel in which the Sevilla man was sent off.

However, Busquets insisted the sending off was deserved, saying: “Medel wasn’t letting go of the ball and Cesc went over to get it. The two squared off and Medel hit him. That’s a fair red card.”

The clash in Andalusia was Busquets' 200th of his Barca career, and the Masia graduate admitted he was thrilled to have reached the milestone.

“It’s great. I’m young and it’s a good number [of games to reach], but I want a lot more and I want more victories like this one,” said Busquets.



CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

WEDNESDAY

GROUP E

Nordsjaelland v Chelsea

Jeventus v Shakhtar Donetsk

GROUP F

BATE v Bayern Munich

Valencia v Lille

GROUP G

Spartak Moscow v Celtic

Benfica v Barcelona

GROUP H

Cluj v Man United

Galatasaray v Braga

THURSDAY

GROUP A

Dynamo Kiev v Dinamo Zegreb

Porto v Paris St Germain

GROUP B

Arsenal v Olympiakos

Schalke v Montpellier

GROUP C

Zenit St Petersburg v AC Milan

Anderlecht v Malaga

GROUP D

Ajax v Real Madrid

Man City v Borussia Dortmund

(All matches at 2.45am Malaysian time)

- mD