SPORTS

           

Mario Mandzukic 'made meal of things', claims Paul Scholes but was Atletico Madrid star punched and bitten by Daniel Carvajal?                                                                                                                          

Paul Scholes has criticised Mario Mandzukic for over reacting after the Atletico Madrid striker appeared to be punched and bitten by Real Madrid's Daniel Carvajal.

Mandzukic was the centre of attention in on-pitch scraps with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Carvajal during the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Vicente Calderon.

The Croatian striker was on the receiving end of a number of hits from Real defenders, even having his face cut following a Ramos elbow, but Scholes claimed the Atletico star was over-reacting to the challenges made on him.

Mario Mandzukic complains he was elbowed after a clash with Sergio Ramos left him with a bloodied face

Daniel Carvajal appeared to move his mouth towards Mandzukic's arm in an off-the-ball scrap

+11

The referee was not looking at the incident as Carvajal then struck out towards Mandzukic

The Atletico Madrid striker fell to ground after tussling with the Real Madrid defender

'Mario was trying to cause a bit of trouble,' the former Manchester United midfielder told ITV.

'The amount of times he was down, he made a meal of a few things. He makes out to be a tough centre forward but he was anything but.'

Ironically Mandzukic was booked for a foul on Varane when it looked like he had been elbowed again, shortly after he needed treatment to stem the blood flow from above his eye after a clash with Ramos.

Carvajal, meanwhile, denied that he had bitten Mandzukic. He said: 'I've seen that after the game I have been accused of biting another player, I want to say clearly that I haven't bitten anybody, nor attempted to do so.' 

The Madrid derby saw Real control the first half before the scrappy second period was dominated by Mandzukic's battles off the ball.

 0-0 draw with Real Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final

+11

Mandzukic lies on the ground holding his face after appearing to be be fouled

Referee Milorad Mazic confronts Mandzukic after the striker was left bleeding following a clash with Ramos

Luka Modric acts as peacekeeper as Mandzukic and Cavajal argue at the Vicente Calderon

Atletico physios treat the striker for the cut above his eye as manager Diego Simeone (front) looks on

Scholes states that the goalless draw means Atletico have the upper hand going into the second leg at the Bernabeu, after the Champions League holders failed to convert their first half chances, with Gareth Bale arguably wasting the best opportunity after being denied in a one-on-one with Jan Oblak.

'It could be a dangerous result for Real,' Scholes added. 'If Atletico get a goal at the Bernabeu, Real need two. Real should have won in the first half. Atletico have to thank their keeper for keeping them in it.

'The second half was poor and not a lot of chances were created. Real will be disappointed because how well they played in the first half, they missed a couple of chances and they could regret it.'

Mandzukic's cut came after he was caught by an elbow from Sergio Ramos early in the second half

Mandzukic was later booked before colliding again with Carvajal with a forearm while challenging for a header