Barcelona 2-0 Almeria: Gerard Pique bids emotional farewell in final game at the Camp Nou

Barcelona marked Gerard Pique’s last game at the Camp Nou in the best way possible – with a 2-0 win over Almeria that sends them top.

Real Madrid will return to the summit if they beat Rayo Vallecano on Monday but this was Pique’s night and he finished it captain of the Liga leaders.

It did not start well and the emotion around Pique’s farewell played its part in that. On five minutes Barcelona were given a penalty when Ferran Torres headed goalwards and the ball struck the outstretched arm of Kaiky Fernandes. Robert Lewandowski gave Pique the eyes – the message was: do you want to take it? Pique told the Polish striker he should take the kick. He took it and it was probably the worst spot kick of his career.

Gerard Pique gave an emotional farewell to the Barcelona fans after playing in his final game at the Camp Nou

The 35-year-old defender marked his final game at the legendary ground with a solid performance in a 2-0 win over Almeria

It can’t have helped him that the Camp Nou crowd were chanting ‘Pique! Pique’. They wanted the captain to take it and everyone, including Lewandowski, wished that he had. There was a sort of double Jorginho-style hop skip and jump run-up from Lewandowski before he rolled the ball on to the foot of the post.

Barcelona forced five corners, and Pique headed just over from one chance. He was staying forward after the set-pieces but the ball was not reaching him.

Frenkie de Jong was also looking for Pique too much. His square pass across the pitch just inside his own half was intended for Pique but Largie Ramazani intercepted it and darted towards goal. Ter Stegen saved the shot and De Jong’s embarrassment.

Robert Lewandowski missed a golden opportunity to put the hosts in front when he scuffed his early penalty wide

Pique was almost granted a fairytale ending to his Camp Nou career in the first half but his header was driven over the bar

It was another veteran, Jordi Alba, who was Barcelona’s biggest threat. He had once shot saved by Fernando Martinez and another cross went just beyond Torres.

The former Manchester City was through five minutes before half time but instead of finishing himself he crossed and Dembele headed straight at the keeper with the goal gaping – it was almost easier to score. He was having a poor first half and crude challenge on Kaiky earned him a yellow card.

Perhaps with a caution to his name Xavi would take Dembele off at the break. He resisted that temptation and was rewarded three minutes after the restart. It was the essence of Dembele from the ridiculous to the sublime.

After being frustrated by Almeria’s low block and the goalkeeping heroics of Fernando, Ousmane Dembele broke the deadlock after the interval

Frenkie de Jong doubled the home side’s advantage after 62 minutes when he capitalised on a rebound to score past Fernando in the Almeria goal

Despite his well publicised issues with the club over the summer, De Jong looked comfortable in Xavi’s midfield

Sergio Busquets played the pass to him and the France winger cut in from the right touchline swerving past three Almeria defenders before dispatching a shot in the far corner.

He should have got a second five minutes later but after going around Almeria keeper Martinez he wanted to beat the rest of the defence too and failed to finish or pick out a desperate Lewandowski waiting for the pass.

On the hour Ansu Fati came on and as always he was immediately making things happen. He ran on to Alba’s cross and although Martinez saved his shot it came out to De Jong who hammered it home for the second goal.

Pique was substituted after 82 minutes and replaced by Andreas Christensen amidst huge support from the home crowd

Every Barca player took time to individually embrace the departing 35-year-old before he made his final walk off the pitch

After being substituted, Pique embraced his former teammate and manager Xavi in front of the adoring crowd

The legendary defender was swarmed by his teammates following the full time whistle

Fati and and Balde both had chances to add a third but it wouldn’t come. The crowd wanted Pique to score it but on 82 minutes he was taken off. Andreas Christensen was stripped and ready to come on for several minutes but the ball stayed in play as the supporters sang his name.

He embraced every player, and everyone on the Barcelona bench as he went off and there were tears in his eyes went he went off.

Those left on the pitch played out time and the win will put pressure on Real Madrid at the top. The still have a battle on their hands to shake of Barça’s challenge and it will not be easy – but it will be with Pique no longer in a Barcelona shirt.

Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the La Liga clash between Barcelona and Almeria in Gerard Pique’s last game before retiring.