Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain are now "one of the best teams in Europe" following their spending over the last few seasons.

PSG have won Ligue 1 in each of the last three campaigns, but have been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League during the same time span.

Ahead of Tuesday's Group A match between Real Madrid and PSG, Benitez has lavished praise on the French giants and claimed that they have "great potential on and off the pitch".

"I think Madrid had a great game in Paris, but [PSG] have great potential on and off the pitch. Our focus must be on getting the three points," Benitez told reporters.

"Some people have ideas and objectives which don't match those of Madrid, but now we must focus on PSG. It's difficult to say [where PSG are in the European game], but they're certainly among the best.

"They're a team who are growing year on year and, by signing [Angel] Di Maria, have gone a step further. I hope we don't see them at their best [on Tuesday], but we have the utmost respect for one of the best teams in Europe."

Both Real Madrid and PSG have collected seven points from their three Group A games thus far.