LaLiga: Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari describes Barcelona's extra day of rest ahead of El Clasico as 'curious'

Madrid: Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari has described as "curious" Barcelona having an extra day's rest before next week's Copa del Rey clash between the two sides, the first of two El Clasico derbies in four days.

File image of Santiago Solari. Reuters

Barca face Sevilla on Saturday while Madrid are away to Levante on Sunday before the two rivals meet in the second leg of their cup semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with the historic rivals level at 1-1 after the first match at the Camp Nou.

"We find it funny. It's curious. But playing in different conditions, it entertains us a lot and we see it as a challenge," Solari said at a press conference on Saturday.

Madrid were also given one day fewer before the first leg earlier this month but had an extra day ahead of the La Liga match at the Camp Nou in October, when Barca ran out 5-1 winners.

Solari also dismissed the possibility of Sergio Ramos earning a longer Champions League ban after the defender suggested he deliberately earned a yellow card against Ajax to use up his suspension in the second leg.

Ramos subsequently insisted that was not the case but UEFA could extend his punishment if they feel the booking was pre-meditated.

“The issue has been cleared up. You can see (it was not deliberate) in the action itself and Sergio cleared it up afterwards. We have no doubts about it," Solari said.

Ramos will miss the game against Levante on Sunday through a separate suspension after being sent off during Madrid's defeat to Girona last weekend. But Isco is available again after recovering from a back problem.

The loss to Girona left Madrid third in the league, nine points behind Barcelona, with a La Liga Clasico coming at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend, four days after the meeting in the Copa del Rey.

“Last week we dropped points and the gap grew but we have to reduce it again. We must fight until the end," Solari said.