Barcelona defender Daniel Alves has admitted that it will take a "very special" team to win La Liga this season.

The Catalan outfit are locked in a battle with capital duo Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the top of the table, with all three teams separated by just one point.

"This is a league where you have to be very special to win it. When you overcome such difficult opponents it's always better when you win it," he told Barca TV.

"Now there is three teams, but we will work until the last day to try and win it. I feel good this year.

"We've started 2014 with a new energy, and that's good because we're going to have to be at a high level from now on."

Alves has had a stop-start season thus far due to a succession of injuries.