Pique Sent Off at Half-time in Final Barcelona Match

Gerard Pique waves to fans at Camp Nou after playing his last game there against Almeria Josep LAGO AFP
Gerard Pique waves to fans at Camp Nou after playing his last game there against Almeria Josep LAGO AFP
TT
20

Pique Sent Off at Half-time in Final Barcelona Match

Gerard Pique waves to fans at Camp Nou after playing his last game there against Almeria Josep LAGO AFP
Gerard Pique waves to fans at Camp Nou after playing his last game there against Almeria Josep LAGO AFP

Gerard Pique was sent off at half-time of his final match before retirement, seemingly for remonstrating with the referee, but Barcelona fought back to beat Osasuna 2-1 and move five points clear at the top of La Liga on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Pique, who waved goodbye to the Camp Nou last weekend, was incensed by referee Jesus Gil Manzano's decision to show Barca striker Robert Lewandowski a second yellow card just after the half-hour mark.

Pique, who was only named as a substitute by Barca coach Xavi Hernandez, angrily approached Manzano at the break, AFP said.

"I was going to bring him on, yes," said Xavi.

"We knew that Andreas (Christensen) was coming back from injury, that he lacked a bit of rhythm. Eric Garcia was feeling pain... So Gerard was left and we thought we'd play him, yes.

"But they sent him off at half-time. It was the result of the tension of the moment. We felt injustice, hence Gerard's reaction."

Spanish media reported that Pique asked the referee: "But do you realize who you sent off?"

It was only the second dismissal of Lewandowski's career, with his second yellow given after an aerial challenge with David Garcia, who had earlier given Osasuna a sixth-minute lead.

Osasuna were hoping to climb into third place in La Liga with victory, but were pegged back despite Barca's woes when Pedri levelled early in the second period.

Xavi was also booked before the hour mark as tempers threatened to boil over further.

But the Catalan giants had the final say when Brazil winger Raphinha headed home Frenkie de Jong's cross with five minutes to play.

Barcelona are now five points clear of rivals Real Madrid who suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Monday.

"It was a game that we could have lost, but the team pulled together. I'm very proud of them," added Xavi.

Pique, a 2010 World Cup winner with Spain, won four Champions League titles with Barca.

The red card was his 11th for Barcelona, equaling Hristo Stoichkov's club record.

Earlier on Tuesday, Athletic Bilbao climbed to third with a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid.



PSG’s Enrique Shifts Focus to Liverpool Test after Dominant Win over Lille

Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Lille - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 1, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique. (Reuters)
Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Lille - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 1, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique. (Reuters)
TT
20

PSG’s Enrique Shifts Focus to Liverpool Test after Dominant Win over Lille

Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Lille - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 1, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique. (Reuters)
Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Lille - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 1, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique. (Reuters)

Saturday's 4-1 win over Lille was a test for Paris St Germain ahead of the Champions League round of 16 clash with Liverpool, PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

PSG scored four goals in the first half to win their 10th match in a row in all competitions. The French champions are unbeaten since a loss at Bayern Munich in November.

"It's the best first half of the season," Enrique told reporters.

"Now we have to think about the... two games against Liverpool, think about recovering and be ambitious.

"They're the most in-form team in Europe, both in terms of results and the way they play. It could have been a Champions League final, so we're going to try and play to our strengths."

Premier League leaders Liverpool topped the table in the league phase of the Champions League, while PSG finished 15th and beat Brest in the playoffs to reach the round of 16.

PSG and Liverpool met twice in 2018 in the Champions League's group stage, with both teams winning at home.

"We're not going to change much. Today was a test, Liverpool and Lille have similar things. We put them under such pressure that they could no longer play from the back, they had to play long," Enrique said.

"It will be different, it will be very complicated of course, but we are in the best period of the season. We're going to play against the best team in Europe, who qualified brilliantly.

"But it's not in our mentality to speculate, protect ourselves, stay defensive, we're going to attack and we're going to try to turn that in our favor."

PSG host Liverpool in the first leg of the tie on Wednesday, with the second leg set for March 11 at Liverpool.