Real Madrid's defence of their La Liga title looks to be dead. Their 3-0 hammering at home to Barcelona leaves them 14 points adrift of their great rivals, with a game in hand against Leganes of no solace after such a comprehensive defeat. All of the goals came in the second-half: Luis Suarez opened the scoring with Leo Messi doubling it from the penalty spot after Dani Carvajal was sent off for the kind of save that would leave Simon Mignolet seething with jealousy. Alex Vidal wrapped it up with a third late on.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of it all was the fact that Sergio Ramos was not sent off, given his prodigious record in doing exactly that. He was, however, booked early in the second half for a challenge on Luis Suarez. (Suarez, it must be said, made the most of it, but it was probably a correct decision by the referee).

Speaking to the media afterward, however, an abrasive Ramos reflected on the yellow in the most needless, and reckless way possible.

In Barcelona I'm sure they think I should be put in prison like Puigdemont. I didn't mean to get him.


'Puigdemont' refers to Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan president who has been forced into exile in Brussels while evading an arrest warrant from the Spanish government for his role in the recent independence referendum deemed illegal by the Spanish government.

While it is largely impossible to view Barcelona and Real Madrid separate from their political identities, particularly given the current situation, Ramos' politicising of this game is of benefit to nobody, and is an ignorant comment to make, at best.