Real Madrid striker Higuain says Barcelona are the best

Higuain is Real's top scorer this season (GETTY IMAGES)

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain may be on a collision course with team-mates after declaring that rivals Barcelona are the best side in the world.

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema to name a few in Madrid's ranks, the Argentine still believes the Catalan outfit are out in front.

He has also heaped praise on countryman Lionel Messi, suggesting he is the world's best talent.

He said: "People like who they like, but for me Messi is the best in the world. He has won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player awards and at the moment is the world's best.

"Although Madrid are the best team in history, currently Barcelona is the best team in the world. It is hard for me to say that."

Meanwhile, Real midfielder Lassana Diarra is not sure if Barcelona have any problems despite their slight dip in form.

The Catalan giants fell to a first defeat of the season at Atletico Madrid recently and looked shaky in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League last 16 draw at Stuttgart.

With Manuel Pellegrini's Real facing Tenerife on Saturday, they have the opportunity to move above them in the table and apply further pressure on Pep Guardiola's side ahead of their game with Malaga.

Despite their first major setback of the campaign, the former Arsenal and Portsmouth man can't see any real concern within the Barca ranks.

Diarra said: "I've seen Barcelona's last few matches and I don't think they have a problem. If you asked me if they are weaker than last season, maybe yes, maybe no.

"A team cannot be at 100 per-cent all the time. But we have to take advantage of the small slips they might have."

Elsewhere, Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez has admitted he has mixed feelings following his side's Champions League last 16 draw against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday evening.

The Spanish outfit opened the scoring through Alvaro Negredo only for Mark Gonzalez to lash home a stunning equaliser.

Although his team are favourites to progress ahead of the second leg at their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan home, Sanchez believed his team would grab the advantage in Russia.

He said: "Although the result is good, we cannot avoid going away with a bitter-sweet taste in the mouth.

"It's not a negative result, as scoring away from home is always positive.

"I was convinced that the game was going to be ours, it's not completely gone the way I wanted and I'm sure that CSKA, who are a great team, will come and give it everything at our ground."