We cannot relax says Barcelona's Alves

Barcelona defender Dani Alves is confident complacency will not be a problem for the Catalan giants as they look to build on their record-breaking success of the past year in 2010.

Barca have swept all aside in the last 12 months, winning all six trophies on offer - Primera Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Club World Cup and the European and Spanish Super Cups - but the challenge facing Pep Guardiola's side now is trying to keep themselves ahead of the pack.

Four years ago Barca failed to build on their Primera Liga Champions League double of 2006 as they went trophy-less until their Copa del Rey triumph of last May, but Alves is hoping it will be a different story this time around.

"We don't know how things will go, but with the coach we've got there's no way we're going to relax," said the Brazilian.

"There's the experience of 2006, plus we need to improve, as if we don't we'll be caught by other teams. So we need to work hard to stay on top."

January could prove a telling month for Barca as they potentially have nine matches during that period, starting with tomorrow's testing home clash against improving Villarreal and also including two games against Alves' former club Sevilla in the Copa del Rey last 16.

If Barca get through that tie, then they could face 2008 cup winners Valencia in the quarter-finals later in the month. "We're hoping to start the year well, like we finished this one," added Alves, whose side have lost just once in their 28 competitive fixtures this season.

"We need to be ready because January will show us how far we can go in the Copa del Rey."

Barca currently boast a two-point lead at the top of the standings, but second-placed Real Madrid are chasing hard and will be in buoyant mood for their trip to Osasuna after ending 2009 with a crushing 6-0 victory over Real Zaragoza.

World-record signing Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted his 13th goal in just 12 competitive games this season in that match, warned his side's rivals: "I am full of confidence that we are going to get much better for the rest of the season."