Gerard Pique has been ruled out of Barcelona's league clash against Almeria on Sunday evening.

The centre-back picked up a calf injury in last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Real Sociedad and has failed to recover in time for the fixture at the Camp Nou.

Jordi Alba has returned to take his place in the squad, however, while Carles Puyol has also been named in Gerardo Martino's 18-man party.

Barcelona currently sit second in the La Liga table on 60 points. They could move top of the division depending on the result of the Madrid derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.