Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has rubbished suggestions that his side have been getting favourable refereeing decisions recently, arguing critics are looking for ways to attack the team since they returned to the top of La Liga.

“All this noise is to be expected because now we are top of the league, people weren’t saying so much about us before that,” Ramos said after his side beat Real Mallorca 2-0 on Thursday to sneak back above Barcelona in the title race.

Madrid trailed Barca by two points when the season resumed earlier this month but are now level with their rivals on 68 and lead the standings due to their superior head-to-head record.

Madrid benefited from having an opening goal by Valencia ruled out in their 3-0 win last Thursday.

Zinedine Zidane’s side then saw three key decisions go their way in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Real Sociedad, including another goal for their opponents being ruled out.

But Ramos, who doubled Madrid’s advantage in the second half with a majestic free kick after Vinicius Jr put them ahead, said it was nonsense that his side were being shown preferential treatment.

“People need to stop making things up,” he said.