Pep Guardiola wants Barcelona to wrestle back the La Liga leadership from Real Madrid before the winter recess.

Barca are currently second in the Primera Division, three points behind their main rivals, and Guardiola wants to be top of the table before the three-week break.

"It is an essential objective," Guardiola told www.as.com. "We know that we have been losing a few points but the goal is to maintain our level and be close.

"The final classification is the result of what you do to your opponents."