FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola can currently look down the Primera Liga table and see his side's title rivals Real Madrid trailing seven points behind, but speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola said his players still had a lot of work to do before they could consider themselves champions for the third season in succession.

"It's better to have a seven point lead than a four point lead, but there is still a long way to go," said Guardiola in a press conference broadcast on Gol tv in Spain.

"We have a lot of difficult matches and there is still much to do. I remember that two years ago we had a 12 point lead and in the end we had to go and win 6-2 in the Bernabeu, otherwise Madrid would have won the title," added the Barcelona coach.

Guardiola continued to praise Real Madrid.

"Their results are incredible in terms of numbers they have won a lot of games while scoring a lot of goals and conceding very few. Out numbers are slightly better and that is why we have a slight lead. Madrid were the maximum rival the day we beat them 5-0 in the Camp Nou and they still are today," he insisted.

"Madrid are going to continue competing, because it is what they have always done. They have always been able to fight back and compete," repeated Guardiola.

Wednesday sees Barcelona play Almeria in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Almeria. Barca should have no problems qualifying after a 5-0 win in the first leg, but Guardiola assured there was still work to do because, " 15 bad minutes can leave you out in the street."

"The aim is to compete and to continue working hard. You have to play every game, even pre-season friendly marches with the necessary seriousness and go to win them," he said.

FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola can currently look down the Primera Liga table and see his side's title rivals Real Madrid trailing seven points behind, but speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola said his players still had a lot of work to do before they could consider themselves champions for the third season in succession.

"It's better to have a seven point lead than a four point lead, but there is still a long way to go," said Guardiola in a press conference broadcast on Gol tv in Spain.

"We have a lot of difficult matches and there is still much to do. I remember that two years ago we had a 12 point lead and in the end we had to go and win 6-2 in the Bernabeu, otherwise Madrid would have won the title," added the Barcelona coach.

Guardiola continued to praise Real Madrid.

"Their results are incredible in terms of numbers they have won a lot of games while scoring a lot of goals and conceding very few. Out numbers are slightly better and that is why we have a slight lead. Madrid were the maximum rival the day we beat them 5-0 in the Camp Nou and they still are today," he insisted.

"Madrid are going to continue competing, because it is what they have always done. They have always been able to fight back and compete," repeated Guardiola.

Wednesday sees Barcelona play Almeria in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Almeria. Barca should have no problems qualifying after a 5-0 win in the first leg, but Guardiola assured there was still work to do because, " 15 bad minutes can leave you out in the street."

"The aim is to compete and to continue working hard. You have to play every game, even pre-season friendly marches with the necessary seriousness and go to win them," he said.