Andres Iniesta urges Barcelona to pick themselves up after Bayern blow

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has urged his shell-shocked side to help ease some of the pain of their Champions League humiliation by taking another step toward regaining the Primera Division title.

For all Barcelona's current travails, Athletic's problems put them in perspective. Last season's Europa League and Copa del Rey runners-up still need points to mathematically guarantee their safety, although their eight-point cushion over the relegation zone with six games to go could be enough. While Athletic have not won in three games in the league, Barca have won their last three, scoring nine and conceding none. And Athletic boss Marcelo Bielsa feels it is premature to draw drastic conclusions about the strength of the Primera Division based on two games. "Comparing two leagues from two games and two results offered such sweeping conclusions seems excessive," he was quoted as saying by Marca. Barcelona still have problems at the back with the injured Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano both still unavailable.