Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso insists Cristiano Ronaldo did not deserve red in their 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao. Ronaldo was sent off for reacting to a shove by Carlos Gurpegi and then a confrontation with Ander Iturraspe in the 75th minute.
Xabi said: "It was not aggression, Cristiano Ronaldo's red was exaggerated, Gurpegui made the most of it and the crowd influenced the referee throughout the match. 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."
