Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has admitted that the Clasico win over Real Madrid "opened the door" for the Catalan outfit in the title race.

Defeat for Barcelona at the Bernabeu would have left them seven points from Los Blancos in La Liga, but a Lionel Messi hat-trick helped the champions secure all the points.

Since then, Gerardo Martino's side have beaten Celta Vigo and Espanyol in the league to move into second position, just one point from leaders Atletico Madrid.

"Beating Madrid opened a door for us. The match was a deal-breaker and we came back," Busquets told reporters at a press conference.

"That's our mentality and hopefully we can continue on. Our position is privileged and the future in our hands. I hope it stays like that until the game against Atletico. That will be a difficult game.

"We'll have to work hard then to get the best possible result."

Barcelona face Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.