Messi and Neymar celebrate, on Saturday

Barcelona: Cordoba defender Edimar has said he holds no grudge against Cristiano Ronaldo after the Real Madrid star was sent off for kicking out at him during Madrid’s 2-1 victory on Saturday.

A frustrated Ronaldo received a straight red card after the incident, which happened with the score level at 1-1, but Gareth Bale later ensured that Carlo Ancelotti's team would take all three points.

Barcelona, meanwhile, kept on their heels with a 6-0 victory at Elche.

Real remain at the top with 48 points, one more than Barca and also with a game in hand, but the loss of world player of the year Ronaldo through a ban could cause problems.

“I am sorry to everyone and especially to Edimar for my impulsive act in today's game,” Ronaldo said on his Twitter account.

His great rival Lionel Messi and Neymar hit second-half braces for Barca after Gerard Pique celebrated his 200th La Liga appearance with a volley that clipped off Domingo Cisma and into the roof of the net 10 minutes before the break.

Neymar was upended in the box by Sergio Pelegrin and Messi scored the penalty after 55 minutes. Elche midfielder Faycal Fajr was dismissed for a second yellow card two minutes later.

Messi was the provider twice for Neymar who finished clinically after 69 and 72 minutes before the Argentine got his second two minutes from the end.

Messi has now equalled the record of doubles scored in La Liga after notching up his 77th to match the total set by Telmo Zarra, of Athletic Bilbao, in the 1940s and 1950s.

It is the latest in a long line of records for the striker, who became the highest scorer in La Liga history earlier this season.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti declined to comment on the incident of Cristiano seeing a red card.

But Brazilian defender Edimar said: “I know that Cristiano has apologised on social networks. For me, he is forgiven.

“It was a [passage of] play in which Cristiano was a little hot-headed and a little frustrated because things were not going well.

“It was not an attempt at aggression. He hit my legs and my mouth, nothing more. What I mean is that those responsible understand that things happen on a football pitch.

“But it is something that can happen to any of us. I think it happened, and that's it. I forgive Cristiano Ronaldo. I hold no grudge. I forgive Cristiano.”

He said he had not yet spoken to Ronaldo, expressing the hope that the Ballon d'Or holder would receive a “normal” suspension. A three-match ban would see Ronaldo miss the Madrid Derby against Atletico next month.

And Edimar said: “Cristiano should receive a normal suspension, nothing more. I don't want to hurt him, and I hope that he remains the best player in the world.”