Via an official medical report, Barcelona confirmed the absence of Gerard Pique against Vissel Kobe this Saturday. The Catalan central defender has got a muscle problem and Ernesto Valverde has decided not to force him as a precaution.
"Gerard Pique has problems in his left thigh and will be out for the match this Saturday against Vissel Kobe. How he recovers will determine when he returns," the club said in an official statement.
Ernesto Valverde had already announced the injury of the Catalan central defender in the press conference in Japan, prior to the match against Andres Iniesta: "We will probably be missing Pique, as a precaution rather than anything else."
It is Valverde's first setback, who will have to reformulate his defence with the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and co. for this pre-season friendly.
Vissel Kobe will be Barcelona's second opponent this pre-season, after the meeting against Chelsea in which Barcelona lost 1-2. An encounter in which Griezmann, De Jong and Neto made their debuts.