Villarreal defender Mario Gaspar has laughed off suggestions that Barcelona are a club in crisis.

Critics have claimed that the Catalan outfit have lost their identity this season following a number of below-par performances, but the Villarreal right-back has played down such claims.

"When I look at Barcelona, what I see is a team that are top of La Liga and top of their group in the Champions League, so I hardly think they're in the sort of crisis that people have been suggesting," he told reporters at a press conference.

"At worst, they might not have the sort of superiority they've had over recent years, but they're still winning. They don't concede many goals and even when they look average, they keep winning."

Villarreal face Barcelona in La Liga at the weekend.