Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale has lauded the technical standard of La Liga in comparison to the Premier League just six months into his career with the Spanish giants.
The Welshman joined Real for a reported 91 million euros ($A140 million) from Tottenham Hotspur in September after being crowned as the Premier League's best player by his fellow professionals and the football writers last season due to his stunning performances.
However, he is enjoying the change to a less physical style of play in Spain and has been impressed by the willingness of even some of the sides struggling at the bottom of the table to try to play a passing game.
"The big difference is the tactical play and the way all teams play a lot of good football. There are no long balls like there are in England," he said on Thursday.
A series of niggling injuries plagued Bale's start to the campaign, but his return to fitness and form has coincided with Real embarking on a 29-game unbeaten run stretching back to October.
Barcelona's surprise 1-0 defeat to Valladolid last weekend allowed Real to open up a four-point gap on their eternal rivals at the top of the table.
However, Bale is taking nothing for granted as he targets three trophies in his first season in the Spanish capital.
"Obviously we are in a very good position at the moment, but there are still 11 games left to go."
Real face Barca twice in the next month in La Liga and the Copa del Rey final and could even meet four times in 25 days if they are drawn together in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Barca booked their place in the quarters on Wednesday with a 4-1 aggregate win over Manchester City.
Madrid, meanwhile, are practically in the last eight too as they lead Schalke 6-1 from the first leg of their tie in Germany and Bale is sure they will face a tougher test in the next round.
"The tournament is really wide open and it just depends on who takes their chances."
