Atletico Madrid chief Clemente Villaverde was left furious with the behaviour of Diego Costa for his red card in defeat at Barcelona.

Costa was sent off for aiming a volley of verbal abuse at the referee.

Villaverde blasted: "It hurt us a lot. A play of that type, which leaves you with ten at the height of the match you are in, it hurts a lot. But the team has shown an extraordinary behavior.

"Beyond the assessment that can be done, the conduct is reprehensible with irreparable damage to the club. I never justify that for behaviors alien to the development of the game you leave your team with ten players. You do not get anything.

"It hurt us a lot. That. We were playing very well. We had risked the changes and in that sense I cannot say anything else. The team has done an extraordinary job and it is a pity that you have to do it with ten on the field."