Gerard Pique's red card made sextuple impossible: Iniesta

Andres Iniesta

Madrid: Andres Iniesta believes Gerard Pique's red card was the point at which Barcelona realised their sextuple dream was over as they lost the Supercopa de Espana to Athletic Bilbao.

Andres Iniesta

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off for shouting "I s''' on your w'''' mother" at the assistant referee during the Supercopa de Espana defeat to Athletic Bilbao. The referee, Velasco Carballo, responded by giving Pique a straight red card.

"It was over two games, so it was difficult to come back but not impossible," Iniesta told reporters after the match. "We tried everything but the expulsion of Pique made everything even more complicated.

Gerard Pique shouts during the Super Cup tie. Pic/AFP

These refereeing decisions happen. We don't know what was said. Today we were infinitely better but it wasn't just one match."