Real Madrid Better Than Barcelona, Pique Admits

Spanish defender Gerard Pique says that for the first time in his nine-years in Barcelona, he feels fierce rival Real Madrid is a better team that the Catalan side.

The 30-year-old made the disclosure shortly after his side was beaten by Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday night.

Los Blancos emerged as comfortable 2-0 winners in the second leg at the Bernabeu, having beaten Barcelona 3-1 at the Nou Camp last weekend, to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Marco Asensio followed up his brilliant late goal in Sunday’s first leg with a stunning effort from 30 metres in the fourth minute that proved a punishing blow for the Catalans.

Karim Benzema struck before halftime to seal the victory and Barcelona left the Spanish capital with home supporters’ chants of ‘champions’ ringing in their ears.

Real, last season’s Spanish and European champions, dominated throughout, toying with Ernesto Valverde’s side and showing no sign they were missing suspended forward Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale who was on the bench.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both hit the woodwork but it was a bleak display for Barcelona, leaving Valverde with plenty of holes to patch before the start of the league this weekend.

Expressing his frustration with his club’s current situation, Pique said, “We’re not having our best time as a team or a club. We should be as close to each other as possible and paddle forward.

“We must live with this defeat and accept that Madrid are better than us. The season’s very long and there’s room for improvement.

“Still, in the nine years I’ve been here, it’s the first time I feel inferior to Madrid.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane expressed his delight at the success in what he described as an “important trophy”, to add to Real Madrid’s European Super Cup win against Manchester United.