Gerard Pique Gets Four Match Ban

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique will miss the first four matches of the new La Liga season for abusing match officials in the European champions' Spanish Super Cup defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

Pique was shown a straight red card in the second leg of the tie on Monday, which ended 1-1, for taking his protests towards the linesman too far as Barca failed to overcome a 4-0 first leg deficit.

The length of the ban was confirmed by Spanish football's disciplinary committee on Wednesday.
Pique will now miss Barca's daunting rematch away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday and the trip to Atletico Madrid on September 12, as well as home games against Malaga and Levante.

Athletic Bilbao Wins Spanish Super Cup

Athletic Bilbao claimed their first trophy in 31 years as they drew 1-1 with 10-man Barcelona to win the Spanish Super Cup 5-1 on aggregate on Monday.

Lionel Messi had given the European champions -- who trailed 4-0 from the first leg -- a glimmer of hope with the opener two minutes before half time.

However, any realistic hope Barca had of pulling off a monumental comeback disappeared when Gerard Pique was shown a straight red card for dissent 10 minutes into the second half.

Leo Messi, The King Of Comebacks

Marca says he is the king of comebacks....... Bilbao will decide if he will be crowned or dethroned

As expected, the Barcelona dressing room has been rather shaken by the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup in Bilbao and the long faces on the journey back to the Catalan capital were proof of the magnitude of the debacle.

The 4-0 scoreline was humiliating whichever way you look at it, but the players did not hide behind excuses and having processed what occurred on Friday, they have already begun the physical and considerable mental preparations in order to mount a comeback that would allow them to keep their dreams of a sextuple alive. The players are convinced that they are capable of managing it, having already accomplished similar feats in the past, but they will undoubtedly need the collaboration of their main star: Lionel Messi.

Supercopa De Espana: Luis Enrique Plots Super Come Back Against Athletic Bilbao

Barcelona must make Supercopa de Espana history by overturning a four-goal deficit against Athletic Bilbao in the second leg at Camp Nou.

A daunting task faces Barcelona if Luis Enrique's men are to become the first side in Supercopa de Espana history to overturn a four-goal deficit when they meet Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

Barca were stunned at San Mames on Friday as Aritz Aduriz bagged a hat-trick in Bilbao's emphatic 4-0 first-leg victory, some questionable defending punished by the hosts.

Barcelona Can Reverse Bilbao Defeat - Dani Alves

Barcelona defender Dani Alves is confident the Catalans can come back to beat  Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana after they were thrashed 4-0 by the Basques in the first leg on Friday.

The Champions League winners conceded the opener from Mikel San Jose's spectacular 45-yard effort after Marc Andre ter Stegen's mistake, with Aritz Aduriz componding their misery when he stroked home Athletic's fourth from the spot after the referee awarded a penalty against Alves.

The defeat comes just days after they scraped to victory in the Uefa Super Cup, beating Sevilla 5-4 thanks to a late goal from Pedro.

Supercopa: Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Barcelona - All The Goals & Highlights

             

History Favours Barcelona Despite 4-0 In 1st Leg Clash - Luis Enrique

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said the history books give him hope heading to Camp Nou for the Supercopa de Espana second leg.

Luis Enrique said one only has to look at Barcelona's history to see they are not yet defeated in the Supercopa de Espana, despite Athletic Bilbao's 4-0 win on Friday.

After watching his side decimated by Aritz Aduriz's second-half hat-trick at San Mames, the Barca boss stayed calm in the face of crisis - the Catalans having conceded eight times in two matches.

Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Barcelona: Aritz Aduriz Nets Hat-Trick In Surprise Win

Barcelona's defensive frailties were once again evident as the treble winners were humiliatingly thrashed 4-0 by Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana on Friday, Aritz Aduriz netting a hat-trick.

Luis Enrique's men surrendered a three-goal lead against Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup earlier this week before eventually winning 5-4 in extra-time, but the European champions were not afforded such a dramatic escape this time around as their Basque hosts took them apart.

Seemingly sensing Barca's jadedness from Tuesday's 120-minute ordeal, Athletic were sharp in the tackle and far quicker to the ball and, although the nature of the opening goal was by no means expected, the home side deserved to open the scoring 13 minutes in.