The 28-year-old, who moved to the Mestalla from Sporting Lisbon this summer for €3.6 million, believes his countryman is a more complete footballer in comparison with the 2011 Ballon d'Or winner.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi because he is more complete,” Pereira theorised to Mundo Deportivo.
"Tomorrow [the game against Barcelona], anything can happen, even us scoring, then holding on to win. It will be a difficult test, but we will do our best."
Los Che coach Mauricio Pellegrino could be without injured midfield duo Fernando Gago and Jeremy Mathieu, pending late fitness tests.
