Real battled to a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu after last week's Champions League elimination by Roma and Pepe declared: "We've shown the strength needed to lift our heads.

"It was a very important victory. We did our work, we remain first and if we continue like this we will be victorious at the end of the season.

"There's no crisis. We lost a game in the Champions League and now we have to lift our heads. We must continue to work, to look forward because life goes on. We have to keep hold of the joy because the team is very united and it is very nice when everyone fights together for a win."