Suarez certain Barca can shake its winter blues

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said his team is "obliged" to chase down Real Madrid, despite losing more ground on the La Liga leader after a 1-1 draw at Villarreal on Sunday.

Even a fabulous last-minute Lionel Messi freekick could not prevent Barca falling five points behind Madrid, which has a game in hand, after Nicola Sansone put Villarreal ahead just after halftime.

The draw capped a poor return to action in the new year for Barca after losing the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.