Marc-Andre ter Stegen has slammed the "unfair" four-match ban for Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique, who verbally abused an official at Camp Nou on Monday.
The 28-year-old defender was slapped with the suspension for using abusive language toward the referee's assistant in the 1-1 Spanish Super Cup second leg with Athletic Bilbao.
He was sent off for the incident after receiving a second yellow card, and will now miss the first four Liga games of the season, but Ter Stegen hopes that the team can minimise the effects of his absence.
"The ban is unfair," the German goalkeeper reporters. "Pique is a very important player for us we will miss him.
"But we will try to do our best during his absence at the start of La Liga to ensure he is missed as little as possible."
Bilbao, who won the tie 5-1 on aggregate to lift the trophy, host Luis Enrique's side in their Liga opener this weekend. Pique will also miss clashes with Malaga, Atletico Madrid and Levante.
Shane Callaghan
