Barcelona's will inspires Guardiola

(GETTY IMAGES)

Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola was delighted with the spirit of his side during their 1-0 victory at Getafe at the weekend.

A Lionel Messi goal kept Barca six points ahead of deadly rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, with Guardiola's six having won their last six games without conceding a goal.

Guardiola said: "To see how the team are playing gives me calm for the month and half of the season that remains.

"With their performance, the players showed that they want to lift a trophy. You can see that they have the desire to be champions.

"When a team of this level has this will, it's hard to stop them. I'm very proud of my players.

"Every victory is important, but we cannot deny that with seven games remaining each win means that much more."

Meanwhile, coach Unai Emery claims Valencia have rediscovered their confidence following a priceless 3-1 victory over Sevilla on Sunday evening.

Los Che returned to the Champions League qualifying places after taking advantage of a slip-up by top four rivals Villarreal, who drew 0-0 with Valladolid.

"We have reclaimed our confidence but we also know that it can be lost just like that," said Emery.

"We must continue to fight to maintain a level of consistency."

Meanwhile, Emery has moved swiftly to play down the significance of the unhappy reactions both David Villa and Joaquin had to being substituted against Sevilla.

"It is something normal and natural and I understand their anger," he added.

"When I was a player, I got upset too when I was replaced."

Elsewhere, Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder is set to miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.

Substitute Sneijder limped out of Saturday's 1-0 win at Recreativo Huelva in the closing stages and looks set to end the season how he started it.

The Netherlands international missed the first two months of the current campaign with a knee ligament injury.

Scans on the fresh injury have revealed a grade two hamstring tear and Sneijder is now facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.