Barcelona Stars Hail Valencia Triumph

Dani Alves admitted that only a very strong Barcelona performance ensured that Valencia were unable to make a game of it in Camp Nou on Saturday evening as the Blaugrana swept to victory.

The Brazilian full-back believes that Pep Guardiola's side were all expecting a very tough encounter against a visiting side that had not lost away all season.

Only a very impressive team display and some sharp finishing from Thierry Henry meant that scoreline eventually made the encounter look like an easy one for the hosts.

"We knew that it was going to be a difficult game, but in the end the way we played made it easy," Alves told the club's official website.

Éric Abidal marked his return after several weeks out of action and was equally impressed with the way that Barça were able to raise their game against a title rival when it mattered.

"We played a great game against a difficult side with some very good players. But we are also very good and we were superior," he said.

"Henry has shown that when Eto'o is not on the pitch he is also capable of scoring goals."

At the back, Barça's defence remained solid against a Valencia outfit that were hailed as an attacking trio to watch and Víctor Valdés was evidently delighted with a clean sheet.

“We are very happy with the way the defence played because Valencia has some very strong forwards who are difficult to stop," he explained.

"The team has done very well in the first half of the league. We will continue step-by-step with each game as it comes."

Lucas Brown, Goal.com