Big decisions favour Real, Pique insists
The Barcelona defender says his team were denied a late penalty by the referee as Madrid score a 2-1 La Liga win over rivals
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique claimed Real Madrid tend to get the big decisions from referees after his side were denied a last-minute penalty in their 2-1 defeat by their rivals.
But Pique and his teammates were left aggrieved after Ramos appeared to fell Adriano inside the box with Barca keeper Victor Valdes even receiving a red card for his protests after the final whistle had been blown.
"We said to the referee that it seemed clear to us, but we already know how these things go. Against Real Madrid, if the game is close, just by chance things go in their favour," said Pique.
"We are left with the feeling that a draw would have been a fair result if we had been given the penalty, but we cannot make this excuse because this team has too much quality to depend on refereeing decisions to win games."
The defeat was Barca's third defeat in four games and Pique admits they are struggling to find their best form.
"You can't maintain this level for 12 months. In the last four years we have always had moments in which our level of performance has dropped.