Top seed Rafael Nadal cruised into the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open with a comfortable straight-sets win over fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes this afternoon.

Nadal managed two breaks of serve en route to a 5-2 lead in the opening set, before pulling out another in the final game to win the opener 6-2.

There looked to be slightly more resistance from the world number 104 - a wildcard entry - early on in the second set as Montanes held serve to keep the score at one game apiece.

However, Nadal, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, broke him in the fourth game to move 3-1 up, which proved the gap he needed to ultimately seal another 6-2 win and move into the last eight.

Nadal, who has won the competition eight times, will face Fabio Fognini of Italy in the next round as he bids for a ninth title.