PIQUE BACKED BY BARCA COACH AFTER RED


'IT WAS AN INSTINCTIVE PLAY' - VALVERDE DEFENDS PIQUE AFTER RED CARD
Dom Farrell
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The Barca boss felt the defender was unfortunate to be sent off against Olympiacos - a decision that impacted upon Gerard Deulofeu
Gerard Pique did not deserve his handball red card during Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League Group D win over Olympiacos, according to head coach Ernesto Valverde.
La Liga leaders Barca made it three wins out of three in Europe's top competition this term as Lionel Messi moved on to a century of continental goals.
Barca were a goal up – Dimitris Nikolaou having put through his own net – but a man down by the time Messi dispatched a 61st-minute free-kick, after Pique collected a second booking for turning in a rebound from Gerard Deulofeu's angled shot with his hand.

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