Real Madrid No2 Aitor Karanka has defended Gonzalo Higuain after he was jeered during victory over Malaga.

Karanka is confident the fans' reaction will not bother the Argentine.

"That's football. Last year the fans were shouting 'Pipa [Higuain's nick-name] please stay' after we won the league in Bilbao. We know he's not in the best form, but he has to keep on working. He knows what the coaching staff think of him," he said.