Outspoken Pique rested for Granada trip

Barcelona (AFP) – Gerard Pique will join Lionel Messi on the sidelines for Barcelona’s return to La Liga action on Sunday at Granada after being left out Luis Enrique’s 18-man squad on Saturday.

Pique played in both Spain’s wins over Israel and France during the recent international break.

However, it was his post-match comments in Paris in midweek that grabbed the headlines as he launched a fresh dig at rivals Real Madrid, saying he didn’t like Madrid’s “values.”

The centre-back evoked tax fraud cases against Barcelona teammates Neymar and Lionel Messi and claimed that Real had “pulled strings” to avoid punishment for their players in similar circumstances.

Pique’s is more being protected by Enrique as a booking on Sunday would rule him out of Sevilla’s visit to the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Messi is suspended, whilst Arda Turan and long-term absentee Aleix Vidal miss out through injury.

Barca trail Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga, but Real also have a game in hand.