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Daniel Alves: "Barcelona are the team to beat"

:Headline: Daniel Alves: 'Barcelona are the team to beat': ID:40716: from db_amp
Daniel Alves insists that Barcelona are still the best club side in the world.

Barcelona defender Daniel Alves has insisted that they are still the best club side in the world despite losing the Primera Division crown to Real Madrid last season.

Barca finished second in La Liga in 2011-12 and also failed to progress beyond the semi-finals of the Champions League.

With Tito Vilanova replacing Pep Guardiola as the Blaugrana coach for 2012-13, there are doubts whether the Catalan giants can remain as formidable as they were in the last four years.

Alves, though, has laughed off those apprehensions, reminding the Barcelona doubters that they are still the world champions, having won the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan last year.

"We're still the team to beat because we're the best team in the world," he told Barca's official website.

"We're the ones that have the logo on our shirts that distinguishes us as world champions."

Alves also expressed his and his teammates' determination to win back the Spanish first division title from Madrid this season.

"I'm as eager as ever," said the Brazilian. "If we lost the last Liga title it's because we weren't as good as the team that finished first. There are no excuses in this club, we have to improve.

"It's all the same to me if we're defending a title or trying to win it. I'm comfortable knowing that the team is competitive, that we have the capacity to fight for all of the titles.

"The team is ready and starting off on the right foot gives you more confidence for the rest of the season. It's difficult to find the right balance if you start with doubts."

Barcelona will begin their La Liga campaign with a home game against Real Sociedad on Sunday.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97
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