Sanchez, Pique out of Malaga clash

Spanish titleholders Barcelona will be without Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez and Spanish international central defender Gerard Pique for their must-win home match with Malaga on Wednesday. Barcelona have only slim hopes of retaining their title as even if they beat Malaga bitter rivals Real Madrid can depose them if they beat UEFA Europa League finalists Athletic Bilbao. Sanchez has a badly bruised thigh which he suffered during Sunday's 7-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano while Pique is forbidden from playing as a precautionary measure after the clash of heads which saw him leave last week's Champions League semi-final second leg with Chelsea prematurely. Also likely to be absent is goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who while he was well enough to train after recovering from a fever coach Pep Guardiola said that his regular number-two Jose Manuel Pinto will be between the posts for the rest of the season.