"The strikers are always the best players in the team, and in the A-League all the strikers are good players," he says with a smile. " I always have to concentrate fully."

But Baro is far too polite to say that any challenge he might meet in Australia pales into insignificance compared to the biggest test he has faced in a career which started 12 years ago with a small team, Peralada, when he was a teenager in his native Catalonia.

Baro eventually worked his way though the grades in Spain, playing in the Spanish second and third division - and that's where he came up against opponents who would give any defender nightmares, the mighty Real Madrid.

Baro faced the European champions - complete with Cristiano Ronaldo spearheading its galaxy of stars - four times in the Copa Del Rey, the Spanish knockout Cup competition where the ties are played over two legs.

It was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time, says Victory's Iberian import.

"I played twice against Real Madrid, when I was in the third division in the Copa Del Ray [with Alicante], and the second time was against Ronaldo, and Gonzalo Higuain [the Argentinian and currently Juventus striker] with Ponferradina."

So what must it be like stepping out on to the pitch at the Bernabeu knowing you are facing Ronaldo and his mates.

"At first you are thinking a lot about them. You know you are playing against maybe the biggest player in the world. But when you are on the pitch you try to do things well, and you see them like another player.

"We drew the first one at home [1-1] and then lost 2-1 in the Bernabeu [when he played for Alicante] the second time we lost home and away, 2-0 at home and in Madrid 4-1."

So given that Baro is a proud Catalonian and lifelong Barca fan but has also faced Ronaldo on the field, which would he pick first - Ronaldo or Lionel Messi - if he was given the choice.

"Messi," he says without hesitation. "The main reason is I am a Barcelona supporter but I think Messi has something special, he is different in respect of other players. For me it's beautiful to see him play."

Baro's has been the story of the journeyman who has battled his way up the grades and made the most of his talent with hard work and application.

He wasn't plucked from obscurity to train at Barca's famous La Masia academy, from which so many talents have emerged. His progress has come in roundabout fashion.

"I started in small teams, and step by step I went to the higher levels, then I have the chance to play in the third division like a professional, then I went to the second division.

"I played one game in the first division, but I never had the chance to play in a very big team in my young days."

When an agent who had brought other Spanish players to Australia offered him the chance to move to the A-League he was quickly on the phone to a former teammate Isaias, who was part of Adelaide United's title-winning team last season.

"I played two seasons with him as a teammate in Ponferradina. I also knew Alberto Aguilar from Western Sydney.

"Isaias told me very good things about the A-League. Both Isaias and Aguilar were very happy about their moves. I looked up about Melbourne Victory on the internet and was happy to come."

Baro moved with his wife and two young children, son Biel and daughter Arlette, and the family have settled comfortably into Melbourne life.

His contract is up in May and, he says, he hasn't really discussed extending his stay because he wants to focus on finishing the regular season strongly then making a mark in the finals.

The competition in the A-League is tough, as tough as the second league in Spain," he says.

"I think there are very good teams. I think it's like the second division in Spain, there are a lot of similar things. It's hard and the levels between the teams are quite equal.

"At the end football is the same game in every country. There are good players in second division in Spain and in the A-League in Australia.

"There are different teams in every league but at the end it's always football."