Real Madrid defender Pepe has insisted that his team will "fight to the end" after losing 2-1 at Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday.

The defeat at the Camp Nou has dropped Real Madrid four points off the top of La Liga, but Pepe, who was booked in the ill-tempered affair, is confident that Los Blancos will recover.

"We played a great first half and we thought it was going to be like that in the second," Pepe told reporters.

"The second goal killed us and we started doing things in a way we hadn't planned. When they got that it took the game away from us. We knew a win here would have been an important step, but there are still plenty of games left. We'll fight to the end."

Luis Suarez proved the match-winner in Barcelona after netting the game's third goal early in the second period.