Barcelona fullback Daniel Alves has fired a barb at LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.

Barca returned to winning ways last night with victory at Real Sociedad last night.

Afterwards, Alves said: "We knew it was going to be a difficult game because it's always very difficult here. In the first half we suffered but you have to know how to do it. In football it's hard to win... but you win by suffering.

"In football it's hard to win but you win."

He continued: "The truth is that we have been slow to get going (this season). Lucky for them (Real Madrid) that we have not arrived before.

"But in the end, life is like that. We had to make a barbaric effort to get the three points. I insist that it is lucky for them that we have not arrived before."