There is “no need to be alarmed” about Barcelona’s faltering form in La Liga, according to left-back Jordi Alba.

The champions made it three top-flight matches without a win during Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against Athletic Bilbao. Ernesto Valverde’s men, however, still remained top of the table on goal difference thanks to Real Madrid’s later 0-0 derby stalemate with Atletico.

“This has just begun,” Alba told Mundo Deportivo. “We are at the top of the classification and that means that La Liga is very close.

“We have to be calm, but we must improve many things. We arrive [at the goal] many times and the ball does not enter the goal.

“A bit of luck is needed, as our rivals arrive few times and score.”

“[There is] No need to be alarmed. We are not satisfied with the results, it is clear that we can all give more, but this has just begun.”

Barca visit Tottenham on Wednesday in the Champions League and Valencia on Sunday in La Liga.