If Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo has been the main story of El Clasico in the current era, then Gerard Pique versus Sergio Ramos has made for an excellent sub-plot.

The two centre-backs are probably more similar than they’d like to admit. Both love to have the last word and are fiercely passionate about their respective clubs.

Barcelona is in Pique’s blood, while Ramos is now a bonafide Madridista having spent 12 years playing at the Bernabeu.

It’s a minor miracle, given the way they’re constantly at each other’s throats via the media, that they actually get along pretty well when forced to play together with the Spanish national team.

Together, they’ve made a hugely successful partnership at international level.

Things could be more awkward than usual when they next meet

They put their hostilities to one side when they reunite for international duty, but the awkward silence might last a little longer than usual the next time they meet up following Sunday’s events.

Ramos was sent off for a reckless challenge on Lionel Messi and made a gesture to Pique as he was walking off the pitch.

“Talk now. Talk now,” Ramos said to the Barça defender.

Ramos was irritated that the outspoken Pique, who loves having subtle digs at Real Madrid via the press and on social media, was regularly talking throughout the Clasico. Mainly to the referee, Alejandro Hernandez.

Pique: Ramos will regret his gesture when he sees his foul

"I saw Ramos pointing at me after the red card, but he will regret what happened when he sees the incident again,” Pique was quoted as saying by Goal. “It was a very clear red card."

Ramos didn't agree

Needless to say, Ramos didn’t agree.

“I have seen the foul again. In no moment did I want to hurt the player. He hurdled the challenge and there was no contact,” the 31-year-old was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“The sending off affected the game. Now I do not want to get involved in Pique's game.”

What Pique kept saying after Messi's late winner

There’s a high chance Ramos will be further infuriated by Pique’s antics after new footage was released by the Spanish TV show El Día Después.

The three-minute clip shows how Pique and Ramos reacted throughout the match and how, after Messi scored the winning goal in stoppage time, the former kept repeating the following…

"We are better [than Real Madrid],” Pique can be seen saying, per Marca. "Infinitely better."

Watch: Ramos and Pique during El Clasico

Skip to 2:20 to see Pique (in Spanish) say Barcelona are "infinitely better" than Real Madrid...

Allow us to grab some popcorn while waiting for Ramos’s response…