Barcelona to appeal Gerard Pique red card

Barcelona have confirmed that they will appeal the red card received by Gerard Pique in the second leg of the club's Super Cup tie against Athletic Bilbao.

The 28-year-old was sent off for allegedly swearing at the linesman in the second half of the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

"FC Barcelona have presented arguments against the red card shown to Gerard Pique in the 58th minute of the game against Athletic Club in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The argument put forward is that the player did not address the referee's assistant in the terms included by referee Velasco Carballo in his subsequent report."

Barcelona are due to open their La Liga campaign against Bilbao on Sunday.