PIQUE MAKES INJURY RETURN AGAINST SOCIEDAD
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique returned to action after an injury layoff spanning a few weeks as he helped his team keep a clean sheet during the La Liga clash at the home of Real Sociedad.
Ex-Spanish national team centre back Pique has been missing for two weeks after he picked up an injury in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinal clash between hosts Eintracht Frankfurt and Barcelona. Gerard Pique was forced off with the injury around the midway point of the first half and he was replaced by Frenchman Christian Lenglet.
Gerard Pique was not in the Barcelona squad that came from behind to beat hosts Levante 3-2 in the league and extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches in all competitions. He was also absent from the squad due to injury as the 15-match unbeaten came to an end for the Catalan giants at home to German Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their Europa League last eight tie. Without Pique in defence, Barcelona lost 3-2 to 10-man Frankfurt to bow out of the Europa League at the quarterfinal stage via a 4-3 aggregate defeat. The Germans stunned Barcelona at home to seal a semifinal tie with West Ham United from the Premier League.
Barcelona had not lost in 15 games before the Frankfurt game at the Nou Camp last week Thursday only for them to make it two straight defeats with the 1-0 defeat at home to relegation-threatened Cadiz in the Spanish La Liga. Thanks to the defeat, arch rivals Real Madrid were able to edge closer to winning the La Liga title this season.
Pique returned to the Barcelona squad for the Real Sociedad game in Anoeta on Thursday with Gabonese striker Pierre-EmerickAubameyang getting the only goal of the game to give the Catalans a 1-0 away win. Pique played 82 minutes before making way for Lenglet.