Barcelona fullback Daniele Alves admits morale is sky high after victory over Real Madrid.

Alves was speaking ahead of their Champions League clash with Roma.

He said: “Morale is high after winning the Clasico. When you win it reinforces the sensation that you're doing a good job.

“I don't need adjectives for it. I've learned that these kind of victories can weaken you, because they can make you believe things that aren't true. The three points are good, but our goal is something else. If we don't win the title at the end [of the season] then it counts for nothing.

“We were amazing across the board, we gave our best, and in the end it was a win where we were clearly superior. We're pleased with the work we did, aside from the result. Winning this game gives you strength, we want to entertain our fans.

“We're managing to be better than last year, but things have to be assessed at the end of the season. Madrid looked to attack? I felt the same way. I think they set out that way, but in the end we were smarter. We understood the game better than them, and scored more than they did.

“I think it was the perfect match."

Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone three games for Los Merengues without scoring, a drought by his own high standards, but Alves doesn't believe the Portuguese is in decline.

“No, I see Cristiano as a player with great qualities," the Barcelona man insisted.

“Maybe that's the problem, he's too much of a character, too much of a protagonist. When you win, you're the first they talk about, when you lose you're first just the same, but in reverse."