Valverde 'PUNCHED Villareal winger Baena' after Real Madrid's loss

Real Madrid midfielder Federcico Valverde 'punched Alex Baena' after a 3-2 loss to Villareal on Saturday night.

Reports in ESPN suggest the Uruguay international confronted Baena in the Bernabeu car park after the game following alleged comments made by the 21-year-old about Valverde's family earlier this year.

The outlet suggests Baena said to Valverde 'cry, because your child won't be born' in a previous Copa del Rey game, after the Madrid star's partner believed she had lost a child during pregnancy. Further tests revealed the baby was healthy.

The Uruguay international has confirmed to Marca his 'aggression' did take place, and said he was reacting to new comments of a similar nature made during Saturday's game, although Baena denies this.

The Villareal man tweeted after the game: 'Very happy with the impressive victory for the team on a stage like the Santiago Bernabeu, but at the same time very sad about the aggression I suffered after the match.

'[I am] susprised by what is being said about my person. It is totally false that I said [comments about Valverde's family].'

ESPN also report that Villareal have spoken to Spanish police and will allow Baena to decide whether or not to press charges.

Aside from any off-pitch incidents, Real's loss on Saturday continued an up-and-down season for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

They beat Barcelona 4-0 to reach the Copa del Rey final last week and are still in the Champions League, but have conceded further ground to Xavi's side in LaLiga.

Barca are now 12 points clear at the top of the table but will have a chance to extend their lead when they face Girona in their game in hand on Monday.

'It was a difficult game, we had chances and we could have made it 3-1 and slowed down the pace of the game, but it didn't happen,' Ancelotti told Movistar Plus after the loss.

'We could have defended better. To be honest, it was hard for us to be 100% motivated, it's quite normal.'

On their next match, a Champions League quarter final against Chelsea, the manager said: 'We have no doubts, Wednesday is a different story.

'The temperature has dropped a little today, but on Wednesday it will be at full strength.'