Sergio Busquets plays down Pepe incident

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has insisted that he did not stamp on the head of Real Madrid defender Pepe during El Clasico last weekend.

The Spaniard appeared to trample on the head of the centre-back in the latter stages of the first period at the Bernabeu, but Busquets has quelled such claims.

"Nothing happened with Pepe," the 25-year-old told reporters.

"I didn't touch him. It's nonsense. If I stamped on his head he'd have a size-45 mark or stud marks. It's something pushed by the press. But we live in a country where they can show this lack of respect. Let everyone say what they want."

Barcelona are in Champions League quarter-final action against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.