MADRID, November 30 – Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini could not hide his disappointment following the 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in 'El Clasico' at Camp Nou on Sunday saying his team were at least worthy of a point.Pellegrini watched on as his team spurned several clear-cut chances, especially in the first half, before substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic volleyed in a 56th minute winner from a Dani Alves cross.
"We at least deserved a draw because, if I am not mistaken, we had a lot of shots on their goal in the first half.
"We had two clear chances with Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Marcelo as well as some good counter attacks."
Ronaldo missed Real’s best chance on 19 minutes with Victor Valdes denying him with his foot while a last ditch block denied Marcelo after half an hour.
"Barca never dominated the game and I don’t go along with the idea that Ibrahimovic changed the game," continued Pellegrini.
"They didn’t dominate with or without him. He scored the goal which was important but I don’t think he changed the game.
"They got the goal in the second half and there was the chance for (Lionel) Messi but we had several openings."
Ronaldo played 65 minutes in his first start since the end of September and Pellegrini said the former Manchester United man could not have played any longer due to his recovering ankle.
"I was given the green light to play him (Ronaldo) for an hour any longer anything else would have been unwise," said Pellegrini. "He played as much as he could."