Carlo Ancelotti Accuses Barcelona of Playing Mind Games Ahead of El Clasico

• Carlo Ancelotti has termed Barcelona’s attack on Real Madrid as 'mind games'
• Barcelona president, Joan Laporta had claimed that Los Blancos had a role in the latest charge against him
• Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to battle it out for the first El Clasico of the season on October 28

Carlo Ancelotti will not be distracted by Barcelona’s tactics ahead of the first El Clasico of the season after responding to claims made by Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernandes in mid-week against Real Madrid.

The Barcelona president and manager had pinpointed Los Blancos for having a hand in the current bribery scandal rocking the Catalan club in a bid to destabilise them on the pitch.

According to Football Espana, Ancelotti has now responded to those claims, as he believes Barcelona are playing mind games and trying to distract them from the main issues at hand.

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“It’s a very serious case, and the Justice department are investigating it. We have to let them work, and let them decide what is right. All of the rest of it, the words, everything… It’s a way of distracting from the main issue. It’s not good on a judicial level.”

Laporta is one of seven people whom Spanish prosecutors are investigating over payments of €7.3m made by Barcelona to former senior referee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

Laporta blames Madrid for Negreira case

Meanwhile, Joan Laporta has defended himself and Barcelona's innocence in the so-called Negreira Case, accusing Real Madrid of interfering in order to penalise the Catalan club, according to MARCA.

The 61-year-old went on to express his belief that the judge would not punish the reigning La Liga champions due to the lack of proof of bribery.

Barcelona are facing charges of corruption, breach of trust, and false accounting as prosecutors are investigating payments made between 2001 and 2018 to Negreira and his company Dasnil 95.

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Laporta to stand trial for bribery

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Laporta’s tenure as Barcelona's president could come to a quick end despite having three years remaining on his mandate, as he is set to stand trial in Spain for bribery.

The Catalans were charged with 'continued corruption in the sports field' in April for payments of around €7.3 million, which Barca made to the former Vice-President of the Technical Committee of Referees, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

Laporta will stand trial alongside former Barcelona presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, as well as the club as an entity.