Pique backs Barcelona to beat Real Madrid as Gordon earns team-player praise

Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has chosen Anthony Gordon over Kylian Mbappe when asked which player he would prefer for his team ahead of Sunday’s Clasico.

Speaking in a filmed interview with former Mexico international Miguel Layun, Pique compared players from Barcelona and Real Madrid before the La Liga meeting between the two sides.

Pique selected Gordon, described in the interview as a Barcelona winger, over Real Madrid forward Mbappe when considering their contribution to the team as a whole.

“As a team player, he [Gordon] is someone I would want in my team,” Pique said. “But if you are talking about individual quality, I would choose Mbappe.”

He also favoured Barcelona’s Eric Garcia over Real Madrid’s Denzel Dumfries in another comparison.

“Eric Garcia is better than Dumfries, even if he is injured,” Pique said. “Otherwise, I would choose Kounde.”

When asked to choose between Barcelona’s Rodri and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Pique responded with a laugh: “Well, I will be objective this time – Rodri.”

The former Spain international declined to decide between Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.

“They are different players, and I do not think they should be compared in the first place,” he said.

Pique also predicted a convincing victory for Barcelona in Sunday’s Clasico, forecasting a 4-1 win for the Catalan club.

He said Barcelona are currently the best team in the world and are significantly ahead of their nearest rivals.

Barcelona lead the La Liga table with 27 points, having taken the maximum available from their first nine matches.

Real Madrid are third, six points behind their rivals, after suffering defeats by Real Betis and Atletico Madrid. They lost 1-0 to Real Betis and 2-1 to Atletico Madrid.

The Clasico will take place in the 10th round of the Spanish league season.