Athletic-Barcelona No sympathy with the Blaugrana

All eyes on referee Gil Manzano at the Camp Nou

Pique: Each week the referees give me more ammunition

A general favouritism towards the big teams means that, in Inaki Williams' opinion, Barcelona are one of the last clubs around who can claim some kind of deficit in refereeing decisions.

Centre-back Gerard Pique has led the Blaugrana frustrations after feeling that they'd missed out on clear penalties against Williams' Athletic Club and Villarreal.

"There are the last team who can complain because they are a big team and at the end of the day, there is always some favouritism," the Spanish striker told Radio MARCA.

"If I miss a one-on-one, then how are the referees not also going to get things wrong? They are human, just like the players.

"The referees have it very difficult and I don't like to protest so that the referees are not filled with doubt."

Following a strong Barcelona spot-kick shout being turned down in Athletic's first-leg victory over the Catalans last week, Williams gave his opinion on Neymar's rejected plea.

"From my position, I saw that it could have been a penalty," admitted the forward.

"But if the referee, doesn't give it, I turn away and clench a fist in celebration.

"On the other hand, Neymar can still shoot and maybe the referee thought that."