Pique could miss Clasico

Barcelona's Gerard Pique is in danger of missing the clash with Real Madrid on December 10 after picking up a fifth yellow card in La Liga.

Having received the booking during the 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday, the Spain international will automatically miss Barca's next fixture, against Levante this Saturday, and return for the showdown against Real Madrid in the following game with his yellow card limit wiped clean.

However, Pique could now face a two-game ban if it is deemed that the booking he earned against Rayo was deliberate.

Modifications had been made to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Disciplinary Code in 2011, which states that any deliberate intent to receive a fifth yellow card can lead to an additional match suspension.

Article 112 of the Disciplinary Code reads: "Any player, who during the course of a game, provokes a fifth booking may be sanctioned with, in addition to the penalty provided for in the first paragraph of this article [a standard one-game ban], an extra one-game suspension and fined the amount of 600 euros.

In determining the intent of the player, circumstances will be taken into account such as the nature of the breaching of the game rules and the attitude of the player during the match."

Evidence that will be taken into account include minutes taken by referee Perez Lasa during the Barcelona match against Rayo.

According to AS, Lasa noted in his referee match report: "On 83 minutes the player (3) Gerard Pique was booked for the following reason: Delaying the restart of play for his team with the intention of wasting time."

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was non-committal about the incident after the match. "The images show what they show and everyone saw them," Guardiola said.

"I do not comment on the referee's decisions. I did not do it with the penalties against Valencia, or the offside against Getafe."

Barcelona are currently three points behind Real Madrid on the La Liga table, but have played one game more.