Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has fired a warning at Real Madrid ahead of their Supercopa de Espana clash.

Pique insists Real Madrid will face a different Barcelona side to the one they defeated in LaLiga Santander earlier in the season when they face off in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final on Wednesday evening.

The Barcelona defender highlighted that his side have a score to settle following their home defeat to their rivals earlier on in the campaign.

“It was unfair that they took all three points,” Pique told Movistar.

“I remember an action by [Sergino] Dest – and they went ahead the first time they got forward. We were more affected, but circumstances have changed.”

Ronald Koeman was sacked five days after the 2-1 defeat at the Camp Nou in October and Xavi Hernandez has since steadied the ship, and the 34-year-old defender stated that he is relishing the fixture.

“It’s a title and we’ll all fight for it equally, as we have shown in the past,” Pique said.

“We have huge motivation to lift the trophy. It’s the semi-final, El Clasico, and it will be difficult.

“But we believe that we come into it in a good moment. We are improving. I am optimistic that we will be able to compete well, qualify and reach the final.”

Pique added that he is under no illusions about the challenge that Real Madrid will pose to his side.

“[Real Madrid] have maintained the base that has given them a lot of success in the past,” Pique said.

“The midfield, with Casemiro, [Toni] Kroos and [Luka] Modric, they known each other very well and the performances that they have given over the years is very high.[Karim] Benzema and Vinicius [Junior] are at an extremely high level, in terms of goals and their play.

“Behind them is a team that defends well, that is comfortable without the ball and they base everything on transitions by Vinicius or the midfielders come together so that Benzema receives the ball… It has been the same base for years. We know them well, they are of a high level but I believe we can hurt them.”

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