Manuel Pellegrini believed Real Madrid deserved a draw at least after watching his side go down to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal at Barcelona.
The striker came off the bench in the 51st minute to volley home the winner five minutes later.
Earlier Cristiano Ronaldo saw his 20th minute strike well saved by Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, while Lionel Messi could have added a second for the champions late on but Iker Casillas saved.
Both sides finished with ten men as the Catalans held on to leapfrog Real at the top of the table, taking a two point lead on Pellegrini's side.
Deserved drawBut the Real boss believed his side had created enough chances to get something from the game.
He said: "We at least deserved a draw because, if I am not mistaken, we had a lot of shots on their goal in the first half.
"We had two clear chances with Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Marcelo as well as some good counter attacks."
He added: "Barca never dominated the game and I don't go along with the idea that Ibrahimovic changed the game.
"They didn't dominate with or without him. He scored the goal which was important but I don't think he changed the game.
Several openings
"They got the goal in the second half and there was the chance for (Lionel) Messi but we had several openings."
Ronaldo played 66 minutes in his first start since the end of September but Pellegrini said the former Manchester United man could not have played any longer as he recovers from his ankle injury.
"I was given the green light to play him (Ronaldo) for an hour any longer anything else would have been unwise," said Pellegrini.
"He played as much as he could."
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