Real Betis travel across the Andalucian city to take on neighbours Sevilla on Sunday for a derby of huge importance locally, and a match of major significance in the push for the European places in La Liga.
"They may not be as important as a Barca-Real in terms of the quality of players, the spectacle on offer, and the media coverage, but they are passionate games," Alves was quoted by Spanish media as telling Algerian newspaper Le Buteur.
"They are tougher than a 'Clasico'."
Betis coach Pepe Mel, a former striker for the club, was refreshingly honest about his enthusiasm for Spain's most highly-charged city derby.
"This week I need to prime Pepe Mel the fan rather than Pepe Mel the professional. My players need someone to who is going to add that bit of spice," he told a news conference.
"From outside the city, I can understand people who say it is just another three points. Those who live here know that is not true. The joy we took from winning the last derby there (2-1) has lasted until today."
Real have yet to eat in to Barca's eight-point advantage over them, but host struggling Athletic Bilbao on Saturday with midfielder Sami Khedira and striker Karim Benzema back after injury.
"It's an important difference but it isn't definitive," Barca defender Gerard Pique told sports daily Mundo Deportivo of their lead over the champions.
"I always remember Pep Guardiola's first year. We had a 12-point gap, we thought we had it in the bag, and we had to go to the Bernabeu and win to prevent them from closing to within a point. Also, Madrid are a stronger team now."
