Monday 14 August 2017 16:49, UK
Zinedine Zidane said the decision to send off Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup win over Barcelona was "ludicrous".
Substitute Ronaldo restored Real's first-leg lead with a brilliant effort from range 10 minutes from time, but was sent off two minutes later after picking up a second yellow card for diving after going down under pressure from Samuel Umtiti.
To compound matters, the Portugal international then pushed referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being shown a red card.
Gerard Pique's own goal had put Real ahead after a low-key first half, but in a frantic finish Lionel Messi equalised from the spot before Ronaldo struck, with Marco Asensio grabbing a last-minute third for the 10 men.
Real Madrid head coach Zidane said: "I'm annoyed that Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, it might not have been a penalty, but still, giving him a card is ludicrous.
"Let's see if we can make arrangements for him to be available on Wednesday [the second leg]. I am truly proud of my players, they played well as 10 and really wanted the win. Now we turn our attentions to the return leg and we need to relax".
Real skipper Sergio Ramos said of the second booking: "I was far away, but I think it was a piece of play in which (Ronaldo) lost his balance, rather than feigning anything.
"It could be appealed. Sending off a key player with 10 minutes remaining of a Clasico in which we've given our all is something which needs to be evaluated and thought about."
Barcelona's penalty was awarded after Luis Suarez was brought down by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and Ramos also took issue with that decision.
"In no moment was it a penalty," added the defender. "I will need to watch it and evaluate it because I don't think the referee would blow for an action in which there was nothing there, knowing that he could be mistaken.
"My feeling was that it wasn't (a penalty)."
The two sides will play the second leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
