Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini praised the spirit of his players ahead of Sunday’s vital BBVA Primera Liga clash at home to Valencia.

Real Madrid responded well to last weekend’s defeat at home to Barcelona by bouncing back to win 2-1 in Almeria in a game where they had to fight back from a goal down to win with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Van der Vaart. The win gave them the three points to keep them in touch at the top of the table.

"My team responded by playing a great match in Almeria. My men have always shown personality in the face of adversity," said Pellegrini in his pre-match press conference published on the club website. "Almeria was a complicated opponent and they had been having a good run. We took three points, which is what really matters," he highlighted, without wishing to say who would finally lift the title.

"Whichever team wins the title will deserve it. Real Madrid and Barcelona are great goal scorers and have been fighting head to head for the title all year long," said Pellegrini whose side faces third placed Valencia on Sunday night, in what could be its toughest challenge between now and the end of the campaign.

"Our next match is always the one we worry about the most. We now face Valencia, a great opponent that will make the match difficult for us. I hope we have sufficient firepower to win the game," he concluded.