Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has said that his former club Barcelona are currently "the best team in the world".

The 28-year-old came through the youth ranks at the Catalan giants and spent three seasons playing for them before joining the Blues last summer.

He is set to face his old side once again in a friendly this evening and he believes that their forward trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar make them superior to all of their rivals.

"It is nice to play against [Barcelona]. I spent beautiful years there, some of the most beautiful moments of my career and my life personally as well. It will be great to play against them again," Fabregas told The Guardian.

"Barcelona are the best team in the world. I think they are the best team in the world, especially when the front three are on form. I don't remember a front three in Messi, Suarez and Neymar as powerful and talented as those three since I was born. Obviously they are a threat to everybody in the competition again this season.

"We won't be playing against Messi and Neymar in this game, so we are a bit lucky because of that. But if we want to win Champions Leagues, we have to compete against the best. We will have to do well."

Fabregas helped Barcelona to win the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey during his time at the club.