Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova chose to focus on the brilliance of Lionel Messi rather than engage in a slanging match with Real Madrid after the teams played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first Clasico of the Primera Division season.

Cristiano Ronaldo started and finished the scoring at the Nou Camp, with Messi also at the double to ensure honours ended even.

“We do not know his limits,” Vilanova said of the Argentina forward. “You should see how he trains every day – that urge he has to keep getting better. I think we will never see another player like him.”

Vilanova added that Ronaldo would be “more recognised” if his career had not coincided with Messi’s.

As always between the arch rivals, tensions frequently looked in danger of boiling over. Real defender Pepe accused Andres Iniesta of “doing theatre” in a bid to win a second-half penalty and Madrid coach Jose Mourinho claimed the referee made “one mistake at a certain moment”.

“He said he does not want to discuss referees, yet he has,” Vilanova said of his opposite number.

“If you talk about referees you should talk about all actions, not a few in particular.”

On Pepe’s claims of simulation against Iniesta, Vilanova quipped: “We should make a video of all his fouls and actions.”

Vilanova’s side headed into the game eight points clear of the champions and boasting a 100 per cent record from their first six matches.

The result allowed Atletico Madrid to join Barca at the top but Vilanova remained satisfied with his team’s start to the campaign.

“If at the beginning of the season we were told that we would be eight points ahead (of Real) at this stage we would have taken that,” he said.