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Cristiano Ronaldo complained for the referee’s mistakes that cost Real Madrid the loss against Barcelona. “I looked at him and he was pale and nervous; he was unable to make the right decisions. A referee has to be relaxed in order to do as well as possible. It makes me think that matches are not only won on the pitch, but also with a little help off of it,” he claimed.

“There were a lot of errors in one match. In a Clasico you have to have a referee who is up to the game. I don’t want to look for excuses but if you look at the 90 minutes the ref made a lot of mistakes. He was really bad. In my opinion he was not up to a match of this stature. Hopefully it won’t be the same in the final of the Copa del Rey,” the Portuguese added.

Ronaldo went even farther and denounced that “maybe they don’t want Real Madrid to win La Liga.” “I’ve been here for five years, so I know how a lot of things are and I hope to win it regardless of this,” he affirmed.

“It’s a feeling of sadness after being 3-2 up and controlling the game. The referee made some unbelievable decisions, but you have to carry on. We were unlucky with everything that happened, but we are still ahead of them and the Liga goes on. We have only lost one game, it is all open and I think the team is fine”.

Yet Ronaldo left a possitive message for the fans: “Real Madrid is the biggest club and that creates a lot of envy around it. You can say that the treatment is the same, but it’s not. Real Madrid is the best in the world and it will fight until the end. The fans were great, they spurred us on, and I have to thank them for their support since the start of the season. I believe we are going to win the league,” he concluded.

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Press report

Madrid sports newspapers highlight today in their front pages the fact that the fight for La Liga has become extremely thrilling after Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid.

“La Liga starts again,” titles Marca, pointing out Real are now tied with Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, while Barca trails them by only one point.

“It was a beautiful Clasico, full of excitement,” they claim. “Messi scored a hat-trick to become the top goal scorer of the Clasicos,” Marca reports.

“Sergio Ramos’ red card hurt Madrid, and Los Blancos blame the referee for the loss,” the Madrid-based daily explains.

The other main Madrid sports newspaper, As, titles on its front page “Storm of Football.”

“Three penalties, seven goals, one red card and plenty of thrills,” they highlight.

As emphasizes the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo was mad at the referee. “I saw him pale, nervous. You can’t referee a game in that condition. We don’t want him to referee the final of the Copa del Rey,” the Portuguese told the press.

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Leo Messi scored a hat-trick to lead Barcelona in their victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, following a disastrous performance from the referee, who showed Sergio Ramos an unfair red card and conceded two unjust penalties, one for each side.

The hosts should have sealed the win before all that happened, as they had enough chances to have scored six or seven goals. Yet, Karim Benzema threw away most of them, and Messi made Real pay at the end.

Los Blancos lacked commitment in defence during the first minutes. They conceded Barcelona midfielders too much space and the visitors took the lead as Leo Messi was allowed to play between the lines and assisted Andres Iniesta, who sent a powerful shot to the top corner.

Carlo Ancelotti men came back thanks to Di Maria, who seemed unstoppable. Benzema should have equalised after a sensational run from the Argentinian, but the Frenchman incredibly missed an easy effort from inside the box.

However, it would only take for minutes for Benzema to redeem himself. In the 20th minute, he bulleted a header to the back of the net following a cross from Di Maria. In the next play, the Argentinian crossed into the box in another great play and assisted his team-mate, who made it 2-1 smashing a volley into the corner.

Benzema was a nightmare for Barca’s defence, and he should have scored a couple more before half-time. Gerard Pique denied his first effort, clearing the ball off the line, and just before the break the French international sent another header wide of the post.

By then, Messi had already levelled for the Azulgranas following some pinball inside the box, drilling one into the bottom corner.

Ronaldo put Los Merengues back ahead early in the second half as he was awarded a penalty after being fouled outside the box. Yet the referee made a bigger mistake when he sent Ramos off as Neymar clearly dove inside the box. Messi scored his second to equalise, and Barca took control of the game with Madrid down to ten men.

Barcelona were awarded another penalty as Xabi Alonso brought Iniesta down, and Messi made it 3-4 to earn the three points for the visitors, who sit now just one point behind Real and Atletico, the new leaders.

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Pretty much most of Spain will come to a halt this evening as everyone’s eyes will be glued to events at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid take on Barcelona in the Clasico.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men come into the fixture on the back of a 31-game unbeaten run and are looking for the 10th consecutive win at home. Indeed their last defeat in any competition came back in October, falling to a 2-1 reverse at the hands of their fierce rivals.

Barcelona have been in some rather inconsistent from by their standards of late. They thumped Osasuna 7-0 last weekend, with Leo Messi in ominously impressive form. But that was just their third win in five – something that has put Tata Martino under pressure somewhat, and for a few to start questioning whether he is the right man to take the club forward.

Madrid’s players and coaches have been keen to play down what a mean would win for the title race, but should they open a seven-point gap over the Catalan side, it would surely be curtains for Los Cules.

Barca forward Perdro is under no illusions about the match, saying they must win.

He stated: “A defeat would make it tough to pull ourselves back into the title race. But we are coming into the game in a good run of form and we know it’s all to play for there. We all want to put in a great performance and keep our treble hopes alive.

“Madrid might just be favourites because they are playing at home, but we know in this type of game there are never clear favourites at all – anything can happen.”

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Michael Laudrup probably knows a good deal more about El Clasico than most commentators.

He may not be the first person fans think of when seeking sage-like insight on the biggest rivalry in European football, but having played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, Laudrup must know his stuff, and he believes that Barcelona must win Sunday’s clash to remain in the running for the La Liga title, according to news outlets this week.

Los Blancos are four points ahead of their archrivals, so a win could put them too far out of reach for Barca to defend their title.

“Real Madrid are favourites because they are playing at home, but both teams have players who can change the balance game,” Laudrup told Cadena COPE. “Real Madrid were behind but now have the chance to knock a rival like Barcelona out of the title race because it a seven-point deficit with nine games would be very complicated.”

Springtime Clasicos have a tendency to carry more weight than as a simple extension of the rivalry — Madridistas will fondly remember 2012’s 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou that essentially secured the league title and 2013’s stretch of three Clasicos in four weeks, where Madrid knocked Barca out of the Copa del Ray as a consolation for losing the league to their rivals.

Both teams prepared about as well as they could for such a vital game. Lionel Messi notched a hat-trick to become Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer in an emphatic 7-0 victory against Osasuna on Sunday, while Madrid advanced in the hunt for La Decima with a 9-2 aggregate score against Schalke 04 with the help of a Cristiano Ronaldo brace.

Ronaldo and Messi will continue their attempts to one-up one another — and who can complain, given the dazzling performances they push each other into — but time will tell what impact the big-money signings will have.

Laudrup said both Gareth Bale and Neymar need time to settle into their new clubs before fully making good on their costs.

“You have to give Bale and Neymar time, but when you pay so much money for them, patience isn’t the word because you pay immediately,” the Danish legend said. “They are both good but they have to adapt to Real Madrid and Barcelona’s games because. Bale has been injured, but hasn’t had a bad year.”

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Clasico Madrid press report

Madrid sports newspapers put their focus today in the fact that El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona can go some way to deciding La Liga title, especially if Los Blancos win.

“K.O. risk for Barca,” titles Marca. “A Clasico worth a championship,” says As.

Alfredo Relano’s newspaper points out that “Messi and Cristiano come into the game in their best form.” They also highlight both managers’ words ahead of the game. “It’s time for me to finally beat Barca,” Carlo Ancelotti told the press. “Winning at the Santiago Bernabeu is our last chance to fight for La Liga,” Tata Martino confessed.

Meanwhile, Marca reports that “Madrid will line-up their best starting eleven aiming to kick Barcelona out of the fight for La Liga.” Spain’s most sold newspaper claims “Bale will decide the game,” given his great state of shape.

Los Blancos will host their arch-rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu at 20.00 GMT. Los Merengues sit at the top of the table three points clear of Atletico Madrid and four ahead of third-placed Barcelona. With only ten matches to go in La Liga, a victory for Carlo Ancelotti men could be decisive.

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A group of Real Madrid fans were awarded the chance to complete a training session with first squad players Asier Illarramendi, Nacho Fernandez, Casemiro and Jesus Fernandez.

As part of the Bwin Skill Series, 20 fans from seven different countries spent a few hours playing with their idols at Los Blancos’ training ground at Valdebebas.

“They had fun, and we enjoyed as well,” Illarramendi confessed. Casemiro admitted “there were a few quality players” in his team, while Jesus pointed out some of the fans “really kicked the ball well.”

A Spanish fan confessed it was “a fantastic experience.” Others described it as something “unbelievable.”

Watch the video above.

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Former Real Madird player and manager Jorge Valdano has said the club will become the dominant force in Spain and Europe while Barcelon’s cycle of sustained success is coming to an end.

The rivals meet on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu in a match that will have a huge say in the destination of this year’s La Liga. A win for Los Blancos would move them seven points clear of the current champions and leave Los Cules with a mountain to climb. But a win for Tato Martino’s side will see them move just a point behind Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

Speaking in an interview with Cadena SER, Valdano stated: “Madrid are favourites for the game for the first time in a while. They’re going at two speeds – Madrid a clear rise and Barca are giving the impression they are entering the end of a cycle. Let’s see if the match confirms these feelings or not.”

He went on to say that there are already signs of decay in the Barcelona side and that change is happening. Long-serving captain Carlos Puyol is set to leave in the summer, along with goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Valdano praised the way Barcelona took football to a new level under Pep Guardiola, but said future generations will always suffer with the comparisons to that great side.

“The club has undergone a generational miracle which is not repeatable,” he stated. And he added: “They won the Golden Ball, Silver Ball and Bronze Ball [at the Ballon d’Or awards]. We’ve never seen anything like it and we won’t again. Signs of decay? Puyol is leaving, the great symbol of the club, pressing is no longer done with the same enthusiasm and neither is the routine.

“In the end, you get used to the good stuff. Subsequent generations at Barca will suffer a lot. The comparison is inevitable.”

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Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet again in a crucial Clasico that might decide the outcome of the current La Liga season.

The two Spanish giants have met dozens of times in the national competition, with a balance that is slightly favourable for Los Blancos.

Check out some of the most relevant statistics about El Clasico in this infographic we have prepared for you:

infographic-clasico
* CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE THE INFOGRAPHIC IN FULL SIZE

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Madrid press report

Spain’s most sold newspaper, Marca, highlights today on its front page that Real Madrid will seek revenge against Borussia Dortmund from last year’s defeat as they will take on the Germans in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. “Champions Revenge,” they title.

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid-based sports daily, As, claims the draw was good for Los Blancos, as it gave them “a candy” for the next round. On the other hand, As states Luis Figo picked “a bomb” when he matched Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Both newspapers put their focus on El Clasico, which will be played tomorrow night at the Santiago Bernabeu. As reports that the Clasico squads “are worth 1160 million euros.” “They are the world’s most expensive teams: Real Madrid is valued in 571.4 million and Barcelona is worth 588.1.”

Marca claims Los Merengues will put “Ancelotti’s law” into practice: “Intensity, discipline, heart and brain.” The Madrid daily warns Los Blancos will line-up their best starting eleven, while “Tata Martino is still having doubts about Neymar.”

Marca also reports that “Ancelotti locked their squad in the changing room for 20 minutes to give a speech.” Apparently, he spoke about how emotionally important it would be to beat the Azulgranas. The Madrid daily also points out that it will be Victor Valdes last Clasico, unless Real and Barcelona meet in the Champions League.

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