Pique cleared of deliberate booking

Barcelona have been buoyed by the news that Gerard Pique will be available for the La Liga showdown with Real Madrid next week.

The Spain defender was under investigation after collecting a booking for time-wasting in Tuesday’s La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano.

The yellow card was Pique’s fifth of the season, thus ruling him out of this weekend’s clash with Levante at the Camp Nou.

There was a suggestion, though, that the player might have got himself booked deliberately in order to avoid running the risk of being suspended for El Clasico.

However, after investigating the circumstances surrounding Pique’s cautioning, taking into account the notes of match referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa, the Competition Committee could find no evidence of anything untoward on the player’s behalf.

Consequently, Pique will only serve a one-game suspension for his indiscretion and will therefore be free to face Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on December 10.

The news is a massive boost for Barcelona as Pique has established himself as a mainstay at the heart of the Catalans’ defence since rejoining the club from Manchester United in 2008.