Having seen their two title rivals register vital wins, the Bernabeu crowd targeted the Portuguese in their side's 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano
COMMENT
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer
It was seemingly just what was needed. Following back-to-back defeats in the last six days, Real Madrid's demolition of city rivals Rayo Vallecano was a welcome win for los Blancos and should have been a happy occasion. But as both Barcelona and Atletico came through tough tests to stay above them in La Liga, this was no happy day for Carlo Ancelotti's side - and it ended with boos for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barca emerged victorious from a difficult derby date at Espanyol in Saturday's first fixture, with Gerardo Martino's men claiming a vital victory thanks to Lionel Messi's second-half penalty. That was the only goal of a fiercely disputed Catalan clash and Tata was a relieved man afterwards. "Derbies are never easy," he said. "But you have to win them."
They did and on the balance of play Barca deserved all three points, yet the result was not without controversy because Neymar (who missed a sitter from four yards out in the first half) handled the ball before Espanyol's Javi Lopez was penalised for the same thing in the spot kick award, while Javier Mascherano escaped unpunished following what looked like a clear foul on the same player at the other end. Contact began outside the box but looked to continue inside the area. Barca were the
better team but received the benefit of the doubt on both calls and that, ultimately, was the difference.
Martino, however, was unkeen to discuss those decisions. "I find it deplorable that we don't talk about the football itself," he compained afterwards. "I said so in Argentina and it's the same here."
Whether he wants to or not, Messi's three penalties in a week (two against Madrid at the Bernabeu and one at Espanyol) have setlled the two greatest grudge games in his side's fixture list and, much more significantly, changed the course of this title race.