Pep Guardiola is adamant that the Spanish league title is not just a race between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

At a press conference ahead of his team's match with Malaga this weekend the Barcelona boss was asked about the challenge presented by Real for the title - but Guardiola was quick to insist that other clubs would be involved and not including them was disrespectful

While teams like Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have made inconsistent starts to the season, both Barca and Madrid have 100% records after the opening four games - raising the spectre of a two-horse-race between the traditional giants.

However, Guardiola was more circumspect claiming "It's a lack of respect, after four games, to think that it will only be between Barca and Madrid. I do not believe that.

"If we have won all our games up until now then it is because we are both in form. If we have won matches it is because we have been better than our opponents.

"Nobody has let us win. Every team works far more hours than the pundits that are saying these things. I want to see my team give everything in each game and we need players that are feeling fresh and want to win.

"We never leave anything until the next match. This is how we did things last season and how we shall do things this term."

Barcelona face Malaga on Saturday evening at La Rosaleda and Guardiola believes that they will present a similar challenge to the one his team faced against Racing Santander last Tuesday.

"They play a bit like Racing, where they signed their coach from," he stated.

"Malaga are a physical team that mark tightly and have a clear plan because they have played together as a team for many seasons.

"They are also direct and have a great player taking free-kicks and corners [in Duda]. We will have to continue doing what we have been doing, but do certain things to suit playing Malaga."