Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos hailed match-winner Cristiano Ronaldo while joking about his own sending off after Saturday's comeback 2-1 Clasico win at Barcelona's Camp Nou.
Ramos was booked for dissent in the 10th minute and then walked a tightrope for much of the game as he got away with an controversial tackle on Lionel Messi, a challenge from behind on Luis Suarez and a clash with Dani Alves while awaiting a corner.
After Gerard Pique headed Barca ahead and Karim Benzema then equalised for Madrid, Ramos then finally did get his marching orders for an ugly foul on Suarez with the game at 1-1 -- his 21st career red card, his 16th in La Liga and fourth against Barcelona.
Ronaldo had not scored too many in big games so far this season, but he won the game late on by calmly controlling Gareth Bale's cross and rifling in the winner.
And the Blancos skipper told reporters afterwards that the Portuguese superstar had answered his critics with the winner.
"Madrid are obliged to win," Ramos said. "There are still many points in play. And Cris' goal showed those who were doing all the talking."
Given the result, Ramos was then relaxed enough to joke about how his team had played better once he had finally been red carded.
"We did them plenty of damage on the break, with one player less," he said. "If I had realised what would happen with one player less, that we'd have won with the sending off, I'd have got myself sent off in the fifth minute."
Zinedine Zidane's first Clasico in charge saw Madrid gain some "revenge" for the 4-0 defeat suffered at their own Estadio Santiago Bernabeu when Rafa Benitez was Blancos coach last November.
"The good thing about football is it gives you a chance for revenge," Ramos said. "You must always keep your feet on the ground. Our fans deserved this after so much suffering. It was important to arrive here at our best level."
Madrid remain in third in La Liga, seven points behind leaders Barca, and now move on to Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Wolfsburg.
"This is a way to recover our confidence, a prize," Ramos said. "We are working very hard to do something important this season. We are on the right line."