Morientes: "Cristiano was rewarded for his hard work"

Liga BBVA ambassador Fernando Morientes had a special #ElClasico experience in Shanghai alongside the local LaLiga fans. "It was an exciting match and a game of two halves. The first half was relatively quiet, whereas the second was quite the opposite," noted the former Real Madrid striker. He was impressed with his old side's reaction to going behind and their late surge: "Barcelona came out much better after the break, but Real Madrid managed to bounce back after [Gerard] Pique's goal and were way on top in the latter stages of the match."

Morientes felt that Zinedine Zidane's approach in his first Clasico in charge of Los Blancos worked a treat: "Zizou got his game plan spot on. They set up in a way they hadn't done before, inviting Barcelona on to them. Madrid closed down space really effectively to deny Barça too many chances and they failed to break them down."

"Real Madrid's starting line-up was what everyone had expected," added Morientes, who participated in a host of activities in Shanghai in his capacity as a Liga BBVA ambassador.

The ex-Spain international also lavished praise on Cristiano Ronaldo, who bagged the winner at the Camp Nou: "He popped up and did what he always does, what we've become used to. He was rewarded for his hard work, scoring and making the difference for the team yet again."