Real Madrid's Pepe: I apologise to Messi
Real Madrid defender Pepe has apologised for his apparent stamp on Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
The Portugal international insisted the act, which was missed at the time by the referee, was "unintentional".
In a statement on the club's website, Pepe said: "I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I nevertheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I do is defend my team and this institution.
The usually pro-Madrid newspaper Marca pulled few punches in its reaction to the incident.
After the match, coach Jose Mourinho said Pepe had played well for the team, but warned he would be punished if it was found he had deliberately stamped on Messi.
"I haven't seen it, but obviously if it is deliberate he will be punished," Mourinho said.
"What I can say is that he did a great job for the team.""I give my heart and soul, and the thought of hurting a colleague has never entered my mind."
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Results & Fixtures
Matches
| Home | Away | Score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat May 12th | |||
| Real Sociedad | Valencia | 18:00 | |
| Real Betis | Barcelona | 2 - 2 | 20:00 |
| Sun May 13th | |||
| Levante | Athletic Club | 18:00 | |
| Racing Santander | Osasuna | 2 - 4 | 18:00 |
| Real Madrid | Mallorca | 4 - 1 | 18:00 |
| Málaga | Sporting Gijón | 18:00 | |
| Rayo Vallecano | Granada | 18:00 | |
| Villarreal | Atlético Madrid | - 1 | 18:00 |
| Getafe | Real Zaragoza | - 2 | 18:00 |
| Espanyol | Sevilla | 1 - 1 | 18:00 |
Tables
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 38 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 89 | 100 |
| Barcelona | 38 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 85 | 91 |
| Valencia | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 61 |
| Malaga | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 58 |
| Atletico Madrid | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 56 |
| Levante | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 55 |
| Osasuna | 38 | 13 | 15 | 10 | -17 | 54 |
| Mallorca | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 52 |
| Sevilla | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 50 |
| Athletic Club | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | -3 | 49 |
| Getafe | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | -11 | 47 |
| Real Sociedad | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | -6 | 47 |
| Real Betis | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 47 |
| Espanyol | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | -10 | 46 |
| Rayo Vallecano | 38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | -20 | 43 |
| Real Zaragoza | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -25 | 43 |
| Granada | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | -21 | 42 |
| Villarreal | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -14 | 41 |
| Sporting Gijon | 38 | 10 | 7 | 21 | -27 | 37 |
| Racing Santander | 38 | 4 | 15 | 19 | -35 | 27 |
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Comments (24)
pepe reaction on was obvioursly clear 2 everybody,dt wat he did was intentional.is dt wat muriho thought him.dts totaly rubish.i sugest he most ban 4 5 good matches 4 wat he as done.
Pepe shud not go unpunished 2 serve as a warning 2 indisciplined players like idiot Pepe in future...
pepe always does stuipd things he is just a fool, why is anyone surprised this little girl would do something this low....
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