Pep Guardiola praises Real Madrid performance

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has praised Real Madrid's performance in Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg.

Despite earning a 2-2 draw on the night at the Nou Camp, Madrid went down 4-3 on aggregate to their bitter rivals.

"Madrid had a very good match and this always leaves a good taste in your mouth," Guardiola told reporters.

"We focus on the good things we did and the fact that we are in the semi-finals. We did some good things, some not-so-good things, but we knew that in those 180 minutes, Madrid would have their moment, would play their game and create chances to score.

"With a rival like this, you always suffer."

Barcelona travel to Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday.