Rafael Nadal has admitted that he is feeling happier with his game at the Barcelona Open but is still expecting a stern test against Fabio Fognini in the last eight.

The Spaniard made light work of compatriot Albert Montanes on Thursday afternoon to book his place in the quarter-finals of the competition on home soil.

Following his straight-sets win, in which he broke the wildcard's serve five times, Nadal looked towards a tricky meeting with Fognini - the same opponent who eliminated him from this tournament last year.

"Tomorrow will be a tough match against Fognini, he beat me three times last year and it was an up and down against him," he is quoted as saying by ESPN. "But I had a great forehand today and the conditions were much better than yesterday."

Nadal won his first title of the year at the Monte Carlo Masters last week.