体坛英语新闻：Ancelotti looks to referee, Martino defends changes after Barca win Clasico

MADRID, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti complained bitterly about referee Undiano Mallenco after his side lost to FC Barcelona 2-1 away in the Camp Nou Stadium Saturday evening.

Goals from Neymar and Alexis Sanchez had put Barca 2-0 ahead before youngster Jese Rodriguez netted a late consolation for Madrid, but Real Madrid complained about two possible penalty decisions especially in the second half when Javier Mascherano looked to have pushed Cristiano Ronaldo in the back with the score still 1-0.

"I think it was a clear penalty. Everyone saw it except the referee," said Ancelotti, who also believed Madrid could have had another penalty after the ball rebounded off Victor Valdes and hit Barca defender Adriano on the arm while he was on the floor.

"That was a difficult decision, if he gives a penalty he will have to have given a card as well," he said, with the implication that Adriano would have been sent off as he already had a yellow card prior to the incident.

Ancelotti was also asked about his decisions to play with Sergio Ramos in midfield and without a specialized striker, leaving Gareth Bale and Ronaldo in attack.

"I wanted Ramos to give balance in the middle as Illaramendi had a muscle strain after playing Juventus in midweek," he said, while adding that Bale was still in his first games for the club. "He played well, but he needs to be able to combine more. It doesn't matter if he plays on a wing or in the middle, I wanted to pressure Sergio Busquets and look for space on the wing," said Ancelotti.

Barca coach Tata Martino refused to talk about the referee and was more concerned with explaining decisions such as replacing Andres Iniesta with Alex song or the disappointing game of Leo Messi.

"The change was to close things down and it was a defensive change which I thought was needed to strengthen midfield: I would do it again if I have to," he said.

"What I wanted to do is win, we were like the Barca that everyone is used to seeing in the first half and we didn't in the second half and that is why we made changes."

Martino also said that the six point lead his side hold over Madrid in the league table is not decisive. "It is good for morale, but there is 60 percent of the league left to play. Madrid and Atletico Madrid are close and they can easily cut back the distance," he said.

Leo Messi was also slightly disappointing, but Martino explained that Messi's game was linked to the play of his side. "He worked a lot today and I think he has been vital important. If he can do that, it will be very good for us. We made a huge effort in the first half and we felt it at the end. The team suffered from tiredness without the ball and from that moment I had to make changes," said Martino.