Madrid: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has played down his side's involvement in an unseemly scuffle in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Levante in La Liga, claiming the recent brawl in Spain's friendly win over Chile was far worse.
Asked about the incidents, which began with Angel Di Maria's retaliatory lunge on Juanlu and ended in Sami Khedira being shown a second yellow card for a push on Sergio Ballesteros, Mourinho spoke of unfair treatment for his side.
"I wouldn't say that was a brawl," he said at a press conference ahead of tomorrow's match away to Racing Santander.
"But in the Spain-Chile game there was a brawl and they spoke about unity, players [coming together] like brothers. And if Madrid do it, we are treated like bandits."
Khedira will be suspended for the match against Racing and Mourinho believes that is punishment enough for the Germany international.
"What he did was childish," he said. "But he is the last person I would expect that from. He's calm and not a conflictive type. He can't play tomorrow and that's his sanction."
Mourinho, meanwhile, claimed he hoped referees can avoid falling into the 'trap' of teams like Levante, having complained of constant provocation from the Valencia-based side after the game on Sunday.
"To control these 'traps', the referee has to be there, to look at players from both teams," he said. "The game in Santander will be what the referee wants it to be."
Madrid will be without injured duo Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, along with the suspended Khedira for Wednesday's encounter at El Sardinero.
"It's not a problem," Mourinho said. "There are opportunities for everyone and for those doing well [in training]."
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