Cristiano Ronaldo has issued an apology after his sending off in the 2-1 win for Real Madrid over Cordoba.
Ronaldo kicked out in frustration at Cordoba's Edimar, with Madrid tied at 1-1, to earn himself a straight red card before Gareth Bale struck the winner.
However, the Portugal captain took to Twitter soon after the game to apologise for his actions.
"I apologise to everyone and especially Edimar for my thoughtless action in today's game," the tweet said.
Pido disculpas a todos y especialmente a Edimar por mi acto irreflexivo en el partido de hoy.
- Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) January 24, 2015
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti declined to comment on the incident.
The La Liga leaders went behind on just two minutes to a Nabil Ghilas penalty, and despite not playing well at all managed to equalise before half-time through Karim Benzema's scrambled effort.
In a frantic ending Ronaldo was then red carded, before Gareth Bale calmly converted from the spot to ensure Los Blancos remained top of the standings.
The recently crowned 2014 Ballon d'Or winner had a very frustrating evening, with zero shots on target, and just minutes before being ordered off had thrown a hand into the face of Cordoba centre-back Jose Angel Crespo. He also appeared to gesture as if he were wiping something from the Madrid club badge as he walked from the pitch.
Asked at his postmatch news conference at the Estadio Nuevo Archangel for a reaction to his superstar's behaviour, Ancelotti claimed: "I saw nothing. I have not spoken with him. I cannot judge what happened."
Madrid did not play well at all, but did escape with three points to maintain their advantage.
"You must win points to be at the top of the table," Ancelotti said. "We managed it with difficulty. We suffered to win this game. But we got the three points, even though I must say well done to Cordoba."
The Italian admitted he had not been happy when his team went to the break at 1-1, with Benzema's goal being their only shot on target in the entire first 45 minutes.
"I did not like the first half, that is why I got angry," he said.
Madrid's goals came from Benzema scrambling in after Bale had flicked on a corner, and the 88th minute penalty despatched by the Welshman after his own free kick had been handled in the wall by Cordoba's Fede Cartabia. Ancelotti claimed a poor surface had been to blame for his team's inability to create much in open play.
"I believe it was not easy to play the ball as the surface was very uneven," he said. "Set-pieces were a good opportunity and we used them well. That is how both goals arrived."
Ancelotti also welcomed the signing of young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Silva, whose arrival from Cruzeiro for a fee thought to be around 13 million euros was confirmed late on Friday night.
"[Lucas Silva] is a very good player and very young," he said. "He will help us as he has quality and plays intelligently. He will be very useful."