Espanyol defender Sergio Sanchez has accused David Beckham of insulting him and slapping him after Real Madrid's 1-0 Primera Liga loss on Sunday.

"I was stretching on the sidelines when Beckham came to take a corner and by chance I started coughing as he struck the corner," Sanchez told radio station Punto Radio.

"He began to insult me. After the game as I returned to the changing rooms he appeared to be waiting for me, started insulting me again, and slapped me."

Sanchez added: "I still don't understand it. Maybe it was because he was wound up."

Real lost their third game in a week on Sunday, including their midweek Champions League visit to Lyon, and ended the match with nine men after defender Sergio Ramos and Brazilian forward Julio Baptista were both sent off.

After three league games they stand 15th in La Liga with three points.