Barcelona's Pique, Puyol to miss Osasuna match

Associated Press
Manchester City's Yaya Toure, left is tackled by Barcelona's Gerard Pique during a Champions League, round of 16, second leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday March 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona will be without defenders Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol for Sunday's Spanish league home match against Osasuna.

The Catalan club says Pique will rest as "precaution due to pain in his right ankle," while Puyol won't play because of pain in his right knee.

That will leave coach Gerard Martino with Javier Mascherano and Marc Bartra to anchor his defense.

Barcelona is on a poor run in the domestic competition and enters round 28 in third place, trailing Real Madrid by four points before the leader visits Malaga on Saturday.

Barcelona visits Madrid in a critical "clasico" match next Sunday.