Lionel Messi admits that Barcelona need to raise their level after two below par performances for tonight’s El Clasico in the Spanish Cup against a Real Madrid side desperate for a morale boost.

Barca made an almost faultless start to the season only dropping points in the league before Christmas with a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, while they also lost against Celtic in the group stage of the Champions League.But now signs of tiredness are beginning to set in.

“Against Madrid we will have to produce our best football as we will be against a great rival,” said Messi, ahead of the semi-final showdown in the Catalan capital with the scores 1-1 from the first leg at the Bernabeu. “We need to be at our best in order to get into the final.”

The teams then go head-to-head again in the league at the weekend but with Madrid trailing Barca by 16 points in the table there is little more than pride at stake.

While they were expected to roll over AC Milan last week in the Champions League in typical fashion, in the end they were unable to break down a well-organised but not remarkable defence as they lacked the movement and the speed of passing. Even four-times world player of the year Messi was largely anonymous as they had plenty of possession but were well contained.

“We need to get back to playing how we were doing before and not think about what happened in Milan. It is difficult for us not be distracted and although we didn’t play well then we shouldn’t allow it to get to us,” said Messi.