Gerard Pique admits Marcelo handball

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has admitted that the referee was right to award Real Madrid a penalty after he handled inside the area in last night's 3-1 El Clasico defeat.

Carlo Ancelotti's side fell behind to a third-minute opener from Neymar at the Bernabeu, before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled matters from the penalty spot.

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano pointed to the spot after Pique appeared to handle a Marcelo cross, which the Spaniard concedes was the correct decision.

"I went down and couldn't get my hand out of the way. I didn't mean to, but it definitely touched my hand so it was a fair penalty," he told reporters at full time.

Second-half goals from Pepe and Karim Benzema sealed the three points and the bragging rights for Los Blancos, who sit one point behind the Catalans in the La Liga table.