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Cristoforo sidelined by ruptured cruciate, Cheryshev fractures metatarsal
17 March 2014
Sevilla have confirmed Uruguayan midfielder Sebastian Cristoforo faces six months on the sidelines with a serious knee ligament injury.
Cristoforo, who joined Sevilla from Penarol in August last year, sustained a blow to his left knee as Sevilla eased to a 4-1 La Liga win over Real Valladolid on Sunday.
And scans on Monday revealed that the 20-year-old will require surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Cristoforo has made 21 appearances for Sevilla in his debut season, but will now be unavailable for the rest of the campaign.
Unai Emery's men are also going to have to cope without Russian winger Denis Cheryshev, who has suffered a fractured metatarsal.
Cheryshev is on loan from La Liga leaders Real Madrid and will undergo surgery in the Spanish capital on Thursday, although no timescale has been provided for his recovery.
A statement on Sevilla's official website read: "Following scans on Monday, Sebastian Cristoforo has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee.
"The estimated period he will be out is six months after he undergoes his operation, the date of which has yet to be determined.
"In the case of Cheryshev, a fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the right foot has been confirmed. He will undergo surgery in Madrid on Thursday."
Fresh reports emerged on Monday suggesting the Argentine has already decided to leave the club this summer, but the Blaugrana strongly deny the claims.
Barcelona have hit out at rumours that coach Gerardo Martino has decided the leave the club at the end of the season.
Fresh reports surfaced on Monday in the Spanish media which suggested the Argentine has taken the decision to step down from his role during the summer after just one year in charge.
The club have moved to condemn the speculation as false, however, with Manel Arroyo - vice-president in charge of the Blaugrana's media and communications - making it clear they had no intention to allow Martino to leave.
"We have no record of this," he said at a press conference following a meeting of the board of directors. "Tata has a contract with the club and is dedicated this week to what's important [Sunday's Clasico].
When asked if there is a condition in Martino's contract which would allow an exit this summer, he added: "I don't know if there's a deadline. There is a clause on his part and ours, but there is no intention to use it.
"The question over his future is a recurring one but it is not a topic for today. It's not something we have on the table. We can see he is focused on the sporting concerns of the first team, that is what he's concerned with."
Arroyo also added that Lionel Messi's future would be at Camp Nou and stressed that a contract renewal should be a priority for the club.
"Right now there is nothing," he said of potential interest in the Argentine from other clubs. "Leo himself has said his only intention is to continue here for many years. His renewal is a topic which must be covered."
Pressure of success reason for Barca exit, says Guardiola
18 March 2014
Pep Guardiola has revealed he left Barcelona because the weight of expectation was too much and he was struggling to motivate the side.
Guardiola enjoyed great success during a four-year reign at Camp Nou, with his haul of honours including three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns.
However, Guardiola called time on his stay with the Catalan club at the end of the 2011-2012 season and subsequently took a year's sabbatical before joining Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich ahead of the present campaign.
The Spaniard pointed to Barca's semi-final defeat to Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League as a key point, when he knew it was right to depart, and says the club's immense success also played a part in his exit.
"There were many moments of sadness and that (losing to Chelsea) was one of them," Guardiola said in an interview with Autopista magazine.
"We were much better than our opponents but we conceded an unnecessary goal and before we knew it, we were out.
"It was a great loss to me. I thought I couldn't go back and set up the team again. If you can no longer motivate the players, as a coach, you know that the time has come to leave.
"We were incredibly successful - 14 trophies in four years. But that can also weigh you down.
"I was having difficulty motivating myself as well as the team, having won everything as a player and a coach. And the team was finding it increasingly difficult.
"The sabbatical year in New York was important to me, my family and to my old team."
Guardiola is now charged with the task of building on Bayern's unprecedented success under Jupp Heynckes, after the Bavarians collected a treble of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League last season.
Bayern are currently on course to match that effort, with the club unbeaten in Germany's top flight and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal.
Guardiola added: "The challenge for me now is to work with a new team and continue the success of Jupp Heynckes. I have the opportunity to build a diverse team."
Carlo Ancelotti has backed Jese Rodriguez to recover from a season-ending injury – just as the Italian did during his playing career.
Jese sustained knee ligament damage in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Schalke, which Real won 3-1 to seal a 9-2 aggregate success.
The 21-year-old forward, who has won plaudits for his excellent form in this campaign, will now miss the remainder of Real's quest for the treble as the capital club aim for silverware in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
But head coach Ancelotti, who suffered a knee injury that kept him out for several months during a spell with Roma in the early 1980s, insists that the Spain Under-21 international can still enjoy a bright future.
"We've been unlucky with Jese's injury. We can confirm it's a cruciate ligament injury and his season is over," Ancelotti said.
"He had been doing very well for his first season in the first team.
"The same thing happened to me at the same age and I still had a career. I came back.
"Even after this injury I'm sure he will remain important to Madrid. We'll wait and see but good luck to him.
"These things happen in football and we have to know how to deal with them.
"We have to be positive. We've lost someone important. He's given us a lot this season, especially when Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't been available.
"There are things though that can happen in a career."
The injury ends any hopes that Jese had of earning a call-up to Spain's FIFA World Cup squad.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes his side's crucial La Liga clash against Barcelona has come at a good time.
The Italian watched his team complete a comprehensive 9-2 aggregate victory over Schalke in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 with a 3-1 home win on Tuesday.
Real are three points clear atop La Liga on 70 points ahead of Sunday's El Clasico, with Atletico Madrid (67) and Barcelona (66) still in the hunt.
Barcelona have lost two of their past four league matches, but looked to be getting back into some form with a 7-0 thrashing of Osasuna on Sunday.
But Ancelotti said the match came at a good time for his side, who suffered a 2-1 loss at Barca in October last year.
"I guess we arrive in a really good moment. We are going to play against a great team," he said.
"I think we have improved a lot from the first game against them (Barcelona), so we are going to give our best because we need do to be at 100 per cent to win."
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace and Alvaro Morata a 75th-minute sealer in Real's 3-1 win over Schalke on Tuesday.
Ancelotti expects a tough quarter-final and is delighted to see three Spanish teams – Real, Barca and Atletico Madrid – in the last eight.
"To have three teams in the quarter-finals is very good for the Spanish football," he said.
"All the best teams are going to get to the quarter-finals. Olympiacos might be the surprise tomorrow if they win at Manchester United, but the rest are the best teams in Europe.
"They are going to be really difficult quarter-finals for all of us."
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta would "love" Gerardo Martino to remain the club's coach beyond this season.
Speculation has risen about Martino's future at the club after a patchy run of form that has seen the Catalan giants slip to third in La Liga.
Barcelona are four points behind leaders Real Madrid, but face their rivals in Sunday's much-anticipated El Clasico.
And while defeat could spell the end of their title chances, victory would be a huge boost to Barca's season.
Iniesta told a press conference on Thursday: "Every day he (Martino) is motivating us. He is a new manager and different. Every manager is different.
"His presence and instructions…his way of understanding football, it motivates us.
"You need the manager to guide the team but the motivation to play and to win and to continue winning, that comes out of the group rather than the manager.
"We've had so many experiences within this team and we've managed to win year after year so I think we are doing the right thing.
"I'd love him to stay with us. He is very capable of being here."
Martino has guided Barcelona into the last eight of the UEFA Champions League and the club will find out who their quarter-final opponents are on Friday.
Iniesta is excited ahead of the draw and would prefer to play an attacking-minded team.
"We say this every year – we look forward to draws, we like to see which team we will play, it's always fun," he added.
"I think we're really excited about it.
"It's great that we're amongst the last eight teams. All the teams in the competition are very strong.
"There's different styles, some prefer to hold the ball, others prefer to play defensively and play on the counter attack. You never know which opponent you want.
"I personally prefer teams that like to take the initiative but I also know that this is the team that often beats us. Different styles are the attraction of football though."
Real Madrid have confirmed that forward Jese Rodriguez has undergone successful surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.
Jese sustained a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee just eight minutes into Real Madrid's 3-1 UEFA Champions League win over Schalke on Tuesday, a victory which ensured they progressed to the quarter-finals 9-2 on aggregate.
The Spain Under-21 international had played his part in Real's quest to win a famous treble, scoring eight goals, but will now miss the rest of the campaign.
The 21-year-old faces a long road to recovery after going under the knife in Germany.
A statement on Real's official website read: "Jese Rodriguez was admitted to the Hessingpark-Clinic in Augsburg by Dr. Ulrich Boenisch and under the supervision of the Sanitas Medical Services-Real Madrid doctors Jesus Olmo and Francisco Morate.
"The surgery, which was carried out satisfactorily, consisted of repairing the anterior cruciate ligament and damaged lateral meniscal in the player's right knee.
"The player will return to Madrid once he is discharged, which is expected to happen in the next few days."
Vicente del Bosque had hinted that Jese could be in with a chance of making his Spain squad for the FIFA World Cup, but his hopes have now been dashed.
The Madrid No.1 has laughed off suggestions that his relationship with the Spain No.1 has turned sour following their changed roles
Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez has insisted that he has a good relationship with Iker Casillas and has never had any problems with the Blancos icon.
Lopez displaced Casillas as Madrid's No.1 under Jose Mourinho in 2012-13 and has held on to his place under Carlo Ancelotti this term.
A number of reports last year claimed that the two had fallen out with each other following their changed situation, but Lopez has stressed both goalkeepers have nothing but respect for each other.
"I have a good relationship with Iker. A relationship can change over time, but not because the situation changed," Lopez told El Larguero.
"I admire Iker and have a lot of respect for him. I have always respected him and he has never been disrespectful toward me.
"We have a normal and friendly relationship. We have respect for each other and are both loved by the fans. It's impossible to say anything negative about Iker, because I would be lying.
"If we reach the Champions League and the coach decides to play Iker, I would respect his decision."
Lopez, 32, has kept 12 clean sheets in 28 La Liga appearances so far this season.
Atletico Madrid know a win at lowly Real Betis could prove key in the Liga title race with Real Madrid and Barcelona clashing on Sunday.
Diego Simeone's side, who sit three points adrift of leaders Real and one clear of champions Barca in a three-way title duel, play in Seville four hours before the second El Clasico of the season takes place in Madrid.
And with at least one of their title rivals guaranteed to drop points this weekend, victory over rock-bottom Betis would further increase belief that Atletico can upset the odds and claim a first Liga crown since 1996.
The capital club, who have lost just three league games all season, will very much fancy their chances of piling the pressure on Real and Barca by claiming another success, despite Betis' recent upturn in form.
Gabriel Calderon's team have taken five points from their last three outings, but remain nine points adrift of safety with just 10 matches to play.
Betis have been heavily beaten at home by Barca and Real this term, and suffered a 5-0 thumping at the Vicente Calderon back in October.
Diego Costa and David Villa accounted for three of the goals in that reverse fixture and Atleti's lethal strikeforce will be licking their lips at the prospect of playing against the league's second-leakiest defence, with Betis having shipped 56 goals in 28 games this season.
Only Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo can better Costa's haul of 22 league goals, while Villa has weighed in with 13 to date in his first campaign at the club.
All signs also point towards Atleti keeping a clean sheet this weekend, as they boast the division's strongest defence - having conceded just 21 times in 28 games - while Betis pose the weakest attack, finding the net on only 23 occasions.
Betis can take a small crumb of comfort from the fact all four of their Liga victories this term have come at home, but Simeone will expect to secure a 10th away win of the season before watching matters unfold at the Bernabeu with interest.
Football matches do not come much bigger than Real Madrid versus Barcelona and the stakes for the 227th El Clasico could scarcely be higher.
With the Liga title race entering the home straight, it is leaders Real who have the advantage and victory on Sunday at the Bernabeu would move Carlo Ancelotti's side seven points clear of their bitter rivals.
Such a gap would prove almost impossible for Barca to overturn as there are just nine league games left after this weekend's crunch clash.
And defender Jordi Alba concedes that the visitors simply must win if they are to retain realistic hopes of holding on to the Spanish top-flight crown.
"It's vital to win away to Madrid," Alba told Barca's official website. "We have to win in order to keep our title hopes alive.
"We're going to Madrid with the intention of winning the game. We know it will be difficult, but we want to play a good game and win."
It is a fixture that comes soaked in history and a host of stellar names have contributed to its rich tapestry, not least of all Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Two prolific forwards with a penchant for delivering on the big occasion, the duo have netted 30 Clasico goals between them and Messi will become the fixture's all-time leading scorer if he can take his tally to 19 this weekend.
That would eclipse the exploits of the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano, who is one of just three players to have scored more goals for Real than Ronaldo.
The Portuguese has racked up a phenomenal 242 goals since moving to the Bernabeu in 2009, ensuring his place among the pantheon of footballing greats.
Ronaldo was silenced by Gerardo Martino's men in October's meeting at Camp Nou, though, as the home side ran out 2-1 winners.
It was another global superstar who took centre stage that day, Neymar grabbing his first Clasico strike to put Barca ahead, with Alexis Sanchez doubling that lead before Jese Rodriguez's late consolation strike.
That result moved Martino's men six points clear of Real, but the side from Madrid have not lost in any competition since then - a run stretching 31 matches.
It marks a significant turnaround from last season, when Barca stormed to the title with 100 points, leaving Real trailing 15 behind.
And this term has seen the emergence of a third genuine championship contender, with Atletico Madrid, who will face Barca in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, adding another dimension to a fascinating title battle.
Real, drawn to face Borussia Dortmund in the same competition, will be without Jese, whose season was this week ended by a knee injury, but fellow forward Karim Benzema, who missed Tuesday's Champions League win over Schalke after limping off early in the 1-0 league triumph at Malaga, should return.
Barca may opt to recall Gerard Pique after the defender was left out of last Sunday's 7-0 win over Osasuna as a yellow card in the match would have earned him a suspension.
Jonathan dos Santos (knee) and Isaac Cuenca (hamstring) remain sidelined.
5 things to know for Spanish league before clasico
By Paul Logothetis (Associated Press) | Updated March 20, 2014 - 6:37pm
Real's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, in action with Schalke's Joel Matip during a Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Schalke 04 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday, March 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
MADRID — Defending champion Barcelona travels to Spanish leader Real Madrid for the season's second "clasico" with its title ambitions on the line.
Barcelona beat Madrid 2-1 in their first meeting this season. But how things have changed since.
Madrid has not lost a match in any competition since that October setback, going unbeaten in 31 games to find itself four points ahead of its rival and three points up on second-place Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona, meanwhile, has slipped to third but is coming off two morale-boosting victories going into Sunday's game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Here are five things to know about the 29th round of the Spanish league:
***
Bale looks to impact
Gareth Bale wants to make a bigger impact against Barcelona this time after a muted performance in his debut clasico.
Bale has found his rhythm since a rash of injury setbacks tempered the start of his career at Madrid, with the Welsh winger going into the game on the heels of a two-assist performance in Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League win over Schalke.
"I feel great, full of confidence," said Bale, who has scored 14 goals and provided 17 assists.
While Bale is building up steam as the season reaches its finale, Barcelona counterpart Neymar appears to be sliding in the opposite direction as the Brazil striker never came off the substitute's bench in Barcelona's 7-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
***
Messi’s moment
It's been an unfamiliar season for Lionel Messi, so beating Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo on his home turf could provide some degree of satisfaction.
Messi has found his rhythm after several injury setbacks, with the Argentina forward scoring 12 goals in his last nine games to take his season tally to 31.
"We hope to play our best and earn a result that keeps us in the hunt," Messi said. "This is a unique opportunity to move in on Madrid. It's not going to be easy going up against a great team, away from home, but we'll give it a shot."
***
Can’t stop Cristiano
While Messi is finally recovering from his early season woes, Ronaldo is in his usual lethal form for Madrid.
The Portugal forward reached the 40-goal mark for the fourth straight season at the club, scoring a pair against Schalke to take his season total to 41.
"Cristiano is a beast. Even when the team is having a poor game, he's always there," said Barcelona fullback Jordi Alba. "If we want to have a chance at winning the league, we've got to win there."
Ronaldo is now fourth on the club's all-time leading scorer list behind Raul Gonzalez, Alfredo Di Stefano, and Carlos Santillana.
***
Pressure’s on Tata
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino's future has been a daily talking point in the Catalan capital, and only a victory against Madrid will likely alleviate the pressure.
Martino has been buoyed by wins over Manchester City and Rayo Vallecano, but another poor performance could certainly leave "Tata" sitting in the hot seat with reports the club is already looking for a new coach for next season.
"I've got no doubt about how we have to play" against Madrid, Martino said. "The win (over Rayo) did nothing to change my thinking about the team I'll pick against Madrid."
Sunday's match could also be goalkeeper Victor Valdes and defender Carles Puyol's final clasicos, with the veteran pair set to leave the club at the end of the season.
***
Atletico gains
With all the weekend's attention on the clasico, Atletico can pile more pressure on its title rivals with a win at last-place Real Betis earlier Sunday.
Atletico enjoyed a full week's rest after having already advanced in the Champions League, just what striker Diego Costa and the squad needed as they aim to stay in the title race right up until the close of the season, when it plays Barcelona on the last match day.
"Whatever happens in the clasico will benefit us," Atletico defender Juanfran Torres said.
La Liga Wrap: Athletic eye Europe, Valladolid miss opportunity
22 March 2014
Athletic Bilbao extended their lead in the race for a UEFA Champions League place to nine points with a 1-0 win over Getafe on Saturday.
San Mames played host to the final match of a relatively low-key day in Spain, with all of La Liga's top three in action on Sunday, as Barcelona and Real Madrid contest El Clasico and Atletico Madrid travel to Real Betis.
Athletic went into the weekend with a six-point gap between themselves and bitter Basque rivals Real Sociedad, who will be expected to defeat relegation-threatened Almeria on Monday.
Getafe are the only side yet to win a La Liga match so far in 2014 and although Athletic enjoyed the better of the encounter, they made tough work of the victory - taking the lead after 40 minutes when Markel Susaeta fired home a brilliant effort from 30 yards.
Getafe tried to stage a late fightback but despite their dynamic attacking trio of Ciprian Marica, Adrian Colunga and Pedro Leon causing plenty of problems, they could not find a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Granada opened up clear breathing space over the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against visitors Elche.
The game's only goal arrived just after the hour mark as Yacine Brahimi slotted past Manu Herrera after good work from Youssef El Arabi.
Elche's chances were dealt a blow with 19 minutes to go as Cristian Sapunaru bundled El Arabi over in the penalty area, earning himself a second yellow card, but Fran Rico could only hit the post from the resulting spot-kick.
Real Valladolid were held to a 1-1 home draw with Rayo Vallecano in a meeting between two relegation contenders, the hosts missing the chance to move out of the drop zone with a win as Ze Castro's eighth-minute own goal was eventually cancelled out by former Valladolid midfielder Alberto Bueno just before the break.
In the mid-table clash at Cornella-El Prat, Espanyol and Levante drew 0-0, leaving both seven points behind Sevilla in the race to claim UEFA Europa League places.
La Liga Wrap: Barca win El Clasico, Atletico go top
23 March 2014
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 4-3 on Sunday, allowing Atletico Madrid to move to the top of La Liga.
Barcelona breathed life into their title defence as Messi starred in their thrilling El Clasico win at 10-man Real Madrid.
Messi, Barca's all-time leading scorer, struck two second-half penalties as the Catalan giants came from behind twice to win a pulsating encounter at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
The second of those spot-kicks, scored with six minutes left after Xabi Alonso clumsily fouled Andres Iniesta, was hammered into the top-right corner as the defending champions closed to within one point of Real - and city rivals Atletico - in the La Liga table.
Iniesta's early goal was cancelled out by a pair of Karim Benzema strikes, and although Messi levelled before half-time, a controversial Cristiano Ronaldo penalty put Real back in front.
Sergio Ramos was then sent off for bringing down Neymar, though, and Messi's first penalty restored parity.
And the Argentina star – who became the top scorer in Clasicos with his treble, overtaking Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano – held his nerve when presented with another penalty as his side notched their first league double over their rivals since the 2009-10 season.
Atletico moved to the summit before the Clasico and would have watched on with joy after their 2-0 win at rock-bottom Real Betis.
Second-half strikes from Gabi and Diego Costa gave Atletico their 10th away league win of the season and drew them level with Real.
And if Atletico and Real end the campaign on the same number of points, Diego Simeone's side will finish higher because of their win and draw garnered from the two derby meetings this term.
Atletico were made to work for their latest victory, but eventually their quality shone through against struggling Betis.
Costa had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, a decision that appeared to be harsh, but the match swung in Atleti's favour when Braian Rodriguez was sent off for a second yellow card in the 56th minute.
Gabi capitalised with a stunning 25-yard strike just two minutes later, and Costa then showed his predatory instincts with a clever left-foot finish just after the hour as struggling Betis' slim chances of survival took another blow.
Sevilla climbed to fifth after a 2-1 win at Osasuna thanks to first-half goals from Jairo Samperio and Carlos Bacca.
And Valencia beat Villarreal by the same scoreline – a result that helped them to eighth – thanks to Javi Fuego's double.
Ancelotti blames ´small mistakes´ for El Clasico defeat
23 March 2014
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes 'small mistakes' cost his side in their 4-3 loss to Barcelona on Sunday.
A pair of second-half penalties from Lionel Messi, which completed his hat-trick, helped Barca fight from 3-2 down in the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ancelotti, who felt his side deserved to take something out of the encounter, said errors were the difference between the two teams.
"The league race is still open. We need an immediate reaction," the Italian told a news conference.
"I've said it many times – the league will be decided in the last match. We have to continue fighting. We need to react.
"I haven't spoken to the players about the match yet. We committed small mistakes and that's why we lost.
"The team is ready to get up and move on. We have to be satisfied with how we played."
Karim Benzema's first-half brace had put Real ahead after Andres Iniesta opened the scoring on seven minutes.
Messi struck for the first time just before half-time but Cristiano Ronaldo restored Real's lead with a controversial penalty on 55 minutes.
But Messi delivered from the spot twice in 20 minutes as Sergio Ramos was sent off, putting Barca to within a point of top spot but still behind Atletico Madrid and Real (70 points each).
Ancelotti refused to criticise referee Alberto Undiano, instead focusing on his team's mistakes.
"It's difficult for me to comment on the referee's decisions," he said
"It's true that Messi scored three goals but any mistakes against a player of his quality will always hurt you.
"We have nine matches left. It will be all intense. Every game will be decisive."
Ancelotti is eager for his men to move on from the defeat with a tough clash against fifth-placed Sevilla to come on Wednesday.
"We have improved a lot, the team have showed their quality and proved it in this match," he said.
"It was a good game but we now have to forget about it quickly. Our next match is important."
Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos slammed referee Alberto Undiano after their side's 4-3 loss to Barcelona on Sunday.
Both hinted Undiano wanted Barca back in the La Liga title race by giving Gerardo Martino's men favourable decisions during El Clasico.
Lionel Messi's hat-trick led his side to the much-needed win in a match that included three penalties– two to Barca and one to Real – and a red card to Ramos.
Ronaldo believes Real are consistently mistreated by referees in El Clasico encounters, with the win moving Barca within a point of Atletico and Real (70 points each).
"We played against 12. It's always the same. They don't allow us. Maybe they wanted Barca back in the league," Ronaldo told reporters.
"I don't want to leave this inside of me and I'm not looking for excuses but the ref is not at the required level for a game like this.
"If Barca lost today they would have been out. After five years here (in Spain), I understand how things work.
"I have never seen Real Madrid favoured by the referees. I'm sure that no matter about all this, we will win the league."
Ronaldo was awarded the most controversial of the three penalties on 55 minutes, when he was clipped outside the area but fell inside to earn a spot-kick.
The 29-year-old converted to put Real 3-2 ahead but the game turned in the 63rd minute as Ramos was sent off after making contact with Neymar, as the Brazilian looked to put away a one-on-one chance.
Ramos felt the result was 'pre-meditated' and believes Neymar went down without contact, despite replays showing the defender's left leg catching the attacker.
"It's always the same. I didn't touch Neymar but there's no point talking about it, it changes nothing," he said.
"Everyone can see what happened. We could have got something from the game but got nothing.
"There are some things you can't fight against. This was pre-meditated.
"I stopped because I preferred 3-3 rather than a penalty and a sending off."
Barca win at Real to blow La Liga title race wide open
MADRID Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:30pm GMT
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) and Neymar (R) celebrate a goal against Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd L) and Angel Di Maria (2nd R) during La Liga's second 'Clasico' soccer match of the season at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid March 23, 2014. REUTERS-Paul Hanna
(Reuters) - Barcelona blew the La Liga title race wide open when Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 comeback win for the champions at 10-man Real Madrid in an action-packed ‘Clasico' on Sunday.
Barca took a seventh-minute lead at Real's Bernabeu stadium through Andres Iniesta before a Karim Benzema double and Messi's first of the night made it 2-2 at the break.
Cristiano Ronaldo put Real ahead from the penalty spot 10 minutes after halftime after he was tripped by Dani Alves and the match turned when home captain Sergio Ramos was sent off for tripping Neymar when he was through on goal in the 63rd.
Messi clipped home the resulting penalty to level at 3-3 and struck the winner from the spot six minutes from time after Iniesta was felled in the area.
With nine games left, Real have 70 points, level with city neighbours Atletico Madrid, who won 2-0 at bottom side Real Betis in the earlier kickoff, and one ahead of third-placed Barca.
Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos slammed referee Alberto Undiano after their side's 4-3 loss to Barcelona on Sunday.
Both hinted Undiano wanted Barca back in the La Liga title race by giving Gerardo Martino's men favourable decisions during El Clasico.
Lionel Messi's hat-trick led his side to the much-needed win in a match that included three penalties– two to Barca and one to Real – and a red card to Ramos.
Ronaldo believes Real are consistently mistreated by referees in El Clasico encounters, with the win moving Barca within a point of Atletico and Real (70 points each).
"We played against 12. It's always the same. They don't allow us. Maybe they wanted Barca back in the league," Ronaldo told reporters.
"I don't want to leave this inside of me and I'm not looking for excuses but the ref is not at the required level for a game like this.
"If Barca lost today they would have been out. After five years here (in Spain), I understand how things work.
"I have never seen Real Madrid favoured by the referees. I'm sure that no matter about all this, we will win the league."
Ronaldo was awarded the most controversial of the three penalties on 55 minutes, when he was clipped outside the area but fell inside to earn a spot-kick.
The 29-year-old converted to put Real 3-2 ahead but the game turned in the 63rd minute as Ramos was sent off after making contact with Neymar, as the Brazilian looked to put away a one-on-one chance.
Ramos felt the result was 'pre-meditated' and believes Neymar went down without contact, despite replays showing the defender's left leg catching the attacker.
"It's always the same. I didn't touch Neymar but there's no point talking about it, it changes nothing," he said.
"Everyone can see what happened. We could have got something from the game but got nothing.
"There are some things you can't fight against. This was pre-meditated.
"I stopped because I preferred 3-3 rather than a penalty and a sending off."
Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes Cristiano Ronaldo was wrong in his criticism of the referee following Sunday's El Clasico.
Real Madrid were 3-2 up at the Bernabeu when they saw Sergio Ramos dismissed for a challenge on Neymar, with Lionel Messi converting two subsequent penalties to complete his hat-trick and secure all three points for Barca in a 4-3 triumph.
The result leaves Atletico Madrid top of La Liga by virtue of their superior head-to-head record over Real - with the Madrid clubs just one point clear of Barca - and prompted Real star Ronaldo to allege Real were playing "against 12".
However, Xavi has defended referee Alberto Undiano, who had earlier awarded Real a debatable spot-kick that Ronaldo dispatched.
"Cristiano is wrong and his criticism is harsh," the 34-year-old said. "Barca were superior, we played better than Real Madrid and it shows in the result.
"As far as I’m concerned, they were all penalties, including the one from Dani Alves on Cristiano, from what I could see on the pitch."
Despite champions Barca hauling themselves back into the title race, Xavi does not consider there to be any favourites to lift the trophy.
"Atletico are the leaders and they’re a warrior-like team, they're battlers,” he added. "There are no favourites from now on though - there are three teams who can win the title."
Barcelona could spend €120m on transfers, says Bartomeu
By Stefan Coerts
Mar 25, 2014 11:56:00 AM
The Blaugrana supremo has made it clear that they the financial resources to spend big this summer if necessary
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has suggested that the Catalans could spend up to €120 million on transfers ahead of next season.
The Catalans are in the market for a new goalkeeper and a centre-back due to the departures of Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol at the end of the current campaign and the club chief has insisted that their financial situation will not hold them back this summer.
"Each year we have an EBITDA [Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation] of about €120 million," Bartomeu told El Periodico.
"We generally use half of that to fund transfers and the other half to reduce our debts.
"But there could be a year where we spend the entire €120m on transfers."
Barcelona are expected to announce Borussia Monchengladbach's Marc-Andre ter Stegen as their new goalkeeper shortly, while they have been linked with players such as David Luiz, Jan Vertonghen and Eliaquim Mangala to strengthen their defence.
The Dutch legend feels the Brazil international is paid too much and fears his presence could cause trouble in the dressing room
Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff believes Neymar is the biggest problem at Camp Nou as a result of his extortionate salary.
The 22-year-old joined Barca from Santos ahead of the 2013-14 campaign and immediately became one of the Blaugrana's highest-paid players.
Cruyff feels the attacker has yet to prove himself at the highest level, though, and thinks his rivals up front could be unhappy with Neymar's high wages.
"Barcelona's problem is Neymar," Cruyff was quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.
"He is a great player, let there be no doubt about that, but you cannot sign a 21-year-old and pay him more than players who have won it all. Nobody is god at the age of 21.
"Plus Barcelona already have the greatest player in the world [Lionel Messi] and a 21-year-old kid cannot be the key figure. This is impossible in football. At the age of 26, yes, but not at 21."
Neymar has netted seven goals in 21 La Liga appearances so far this term.
