FC Barcelona

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC: “The credit goes to Dani [Alves] who put an excellent cross into the middle. I just tried to hit it and it went in. It’s a great moment, in my first Clasico. It was a fantastic atmosphere, I’m really happy.”

ANDRES INIESTA : (reacting to an on-pitch incident with Cristiano Ronaldo) “It disturbed me that Cristiano felt the need to tell me that I should not dive. Because he is not the most appropriate person to be doing such a thing.”… (commenting on the game) “It’s a great result and now we must stay focused and continue working.”

PEP GUARDIOLA, coach: “We were very strong mentally. We showed enough character to win at home. Madrid are a very good team, there is no doubt about that.  They had their chances and they made life difficult but we tried to maintain possession. I expected Madrid to be aggressive early on. They are gelling together now and I think that they played well. Sometimes you play better and you win, sometimes you do not but you still win. With ten men we pressured and attacked and had a few chances.”…(commenting on Puyol’s heroics) ” He was relentless. It seems like he is still 20 years old.”

JOAN LAPORTA: “This is a great joy for Barcelona, on the 110th anniversary of the club. It was a walk through the history of Barca, against an opponent that has pushed us hard in victory. It was a great Madrid, which has taken responsibility and has played an attacking style with their best football. I liked Madrid, I think they’re the best opponent that has visited the Nou Camp this season.”

Real Madrid

SERGIO RAMOS: “Real Madrid has done more than Barcelona, especially in the first half. After so much work and sacrifice, we have come away with a defeat when we deserved more…Despite the fact that we lost we played well. We’re proud of the way we played at Camp Nou and will go with our heads held high.”

XABI ALONSO: “Playing against ten you get a bit anxious, but it was a very even match I thought. We had our chances but we lost. It’s too bad we couldn’t score.  In the second half they scored first and we lost. We didn’t play that great, but a bit better, but we knew what we had to do.”

MANUEL PELLEGRINI, coach: “I am evidently not very satisfied. I never enjoy losing, but I am pleased with the way we played…We know how Barcelona like to play. They want to hold onto the ball, but they were up against a Real Madrid that was better than them in many facets of the game. I think we at least deserved a draw. We had more chances than they did, especially in the first half. They scored in the second half, but we also had our opportunities.”

JORGE VALDANO: “It was an intense and attractive match between two ambitious teams. We deserved to have more luck, but the team showed enormous maturity in a difficult stadium. I think it should ease criticisms of us, as it shows the side is making progress and we have the players to compete at this level.”