Zidane: Real Madrid paid for being too bold in final minute

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane didn't want to criticise his players for their desire to push forward late and take all three points in Sunday's El Clasico, but was clearly disappointed that they didn't manage the situation properly before conceding a 92nd-minute winner to Lionel Messi.

Madrid, leading Barcelona by three points for top spot in La Liga heading into the contest, clawed back late despite having Sergio Ramos sent off in the second half, bringing the score level at two apiece in the waning minutes through a goal from substitute James Rodriguez.

A draw would have seen Los Blancos retain its three-point lead atop the standings.

Instead, the home side pushed forward, and after losing possession in the Barcelona half, could do nothing as the Blaugrana stormed the other way, Messi deciding the encounter in the final seconds.

"We thought we could score a third goal," Zidane said, per ESPN FC. "It is not that we lacked intelligence. Equalising, with 10, and then going to press very high, is dangerous, and we paid for that.

"But I will not reproach the players. We always go for the game. We are disappointed as we did not deserve to lose, but football is like that."

With La Liga using head-to-head results as the first tiebreaker, the loss means Madrid would lose the title to Barcelona should the two clubs finish the campaign level on points.

That said, Zidane's men still control their own fate; with a game in hand on the Catalan club, Madrid goes into its final six matches knowing that victory in all of them would definitely lead to a first league crown since 2012.