Iniesta: Barca can cope without Pique

Barcelona star Andres Iniesta believes his team have the quality to overcome the absence of Gerard Pique against Deportivo La Coruna.

The centre-back could make his comeback against Deportivo after spending the past few weeks on the sidelines due to a foot injury.

But Iniesta said Barcelona would remain a competitive team without the 25-year-old, who could still make his return in the La Liga clash on Saturday.

“The people who know most about his injury are the doctors. If he isn’t ready to play then that’s because he can’t,” Iniesta told reporters.

“But even if he’s not there, we’ll still have a competitive team. I hope we’ll all be available for the game in La Coruna. After an international break it’s always that little bit more difficult.

“We have to go to La Coruna and get the three points, and then carry on doing the same.”

Barcelona are top of the league on goal difference, with Atletico Madrid level on points with Tito Vilanova’s men after seven matches.