MADRID - Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo thinks his two-match suspension for Sunday's red card against Malaga is excessive and is confident the La Liga club's appeal will succeed.

MADRID - Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo thinks his two-match suspension for Sunday's red card against Malaga is excessive and is confident the La Liga club's appeal will succeed.

Ronaldo scored both goals in the 2-0 win at the Bernabeu but was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute after catching defender Patrick Mtiliga with a flailing arm and breaking his nose.

The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said on Tuesday the Portugal forward had been suspended and fined ß600 (R6420).

If Real's attempts to get the ban reversed, reduced or postponed are unsuccessful he will miss Saturday's trip to Deportivo Coruna and the home game against Espanyol the following weekend.

"I wasn't impressed (with the suspension), of course," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by As newspaper yesterday. "I sincerely believe the punishment is excessive. I am confident in the appeal the club is going to lodge and that the punishment will be reduced." - Reuters