Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos refused to accept his side had been left with an insurmountable task to overhaul Barcelona despite falling 12 points adrift of their arch rivals last night.

Madrid are attempting to win a third successive Primera Liga title this season, but they will have to do it the hard way after losing 2-0 at the Nou Camp last night following late goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi.

That means the champions have now lost four of their last five league games, while in contrast Barca continue to power on at the summit with 12 wins and two draws in 14 games since losing to Numancia on the opening day of the season.

There is a huge gap between the two sides both in form and points, but Ramos insists it is still too early in the season to be writing off his side.

"I believe in football you need to take it game by game. The difference is considerable but there remains a lot of the league in front of us and also the form of the teams will have a big say," said the former Sevilla and Tottenham coach, who only took over at Madrid on Tuesday following the departure of Bernd Schuster.

"Barcelona have shown they are at a very high level and in excellent form, but we have to wait for the second half of the season, when the Champions League returns...we shall see then."

Madrid went into the match without eight senior players duo to injury and suspension and with many predicting a heavy defeat at the red-hot Primera Liga leaders.

However, the visitors battled hard throughout and, after goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved Eto'o's 70th-minute penalty, they looked on course to claim a creditable point.

It was not to be though, as Eto'o broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining after deflecting in Carles Puyol's header, before Messi wrapped up the points with his side's second late on.

"I'm happy with the image the team have given," said Ramos. "They did what they had to do, with pride and generosity and we came close to a better result, but did not take advantage of our opportunity, Barca did and they have taken away the three points."