BARCELONA COST TOO MUCH NOT TO HAVE BEATEN MALAGA' - PIQUE REFUSES TO BLAME MESSI ABSENCE FOR DRAW


Gerard Pique insists the cost to assemble Barcelona's squad means there can be no excuse for Saturday's 0-0 draw against Malaga, despite the absence of star duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Catalans failed to score at home for the first time since February 2015 as they played out a goalless draw with Malaga.
Messi missed the clash due to illness, while Suarez was sidelined due to suspension.
Pique, however, refused to use the missing pair as an excuse after Barca fell four points behind leader and arch-rival Real Madrid.
"We're Barca and we can't blame absences," he told reporters after the match.
"We have players that cost a lot of money and a huge budget if we compare it with Malaga's. There are no excuses for not winning.
"It's worrying that we've dropped so many points at home. No one wants to draw against a rival that in theory we should beat.
"We've dropped two points."

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