Xabi Alonso: 'Cristiano Ronaldo's red card was unfair'

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has claimed that the red card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo during their 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday was harsh.

The Portuguese forward was given his marching orders 15 minutes from time for a raised hand on Carlos Gurpegui, and the former Liverpool man believes that the decision was unfair.

"It was not aggressive, Cristiano Ronaldo's red was exaggerated, Gurpegui made the most of it and the crowd influenced the referee throughout the match," he told reporters.

"This always happens, it's nothing new. Cristiano shouldn't have done what he did but it is not a sending off, that went against us.

"We came here with the intention of winning because it was a good opportunity to pick up points in the league but we knew it was going to be a difficult trip. It was a fair result. It was a very good and intense match, the referee got some things wrong but that's normal."

Carlo Ancelotti's side are currently third in La Liga.