Barca suffered a wobble around the start of last month when, after a stunning run of 29 victories in 33 competitive matches, they went five games without a win, but since then Pep Guardiola's side have rattled off seven successive triumphs in La Liga and the Champions League.

That has left Barca six points clear of Madrid in the race for the Spanish title, but Pepe is convinced that the treble-chasing Catalan giants will suffer another blip before the end of the campaign.

"They play good football because they have some high-quality players, but Barcelona are not unbeatable. Their players are human, and the moment will arrive when they falter," said the Portugal centre-back.

"We only need to be ready to take advantage of this opportunity and we will be there. We can still dream about winning the league.

"They have a very difficult game next week in Getafe, and then they know they still have a difficult game to come at our place. We have to get to this game with the points difference as little as possible."

Madrid kept up their breathless pursuit of the leaders with a 2-0 home win over Real Valladolid yesterday.

It was not the most entertaining of spectacles at the Bernabeu, but goals towards the end of either half from Raul and Arjen Robben earned Juande Ramos' side their 14th league win in their last 15 games, and trimmed back Barca's advantage after the leaders had moved nine clear 24 hours previously.

"We didn't have the game we wanted against Malaga. We noticed the pressure (of playing second), that's true," admitted Pepe.

"Until now we've often played first and put the pressure on them. That's important. But we need to concentrate on doing a good job."