A whole town believed in it. Miraculous in Turin (1-1), FC Nantes began to dream of an XXL feat against Juventus during this round of 16 second leg of the Europa League with, in the back of their minds, the hope of avenge the 1996 team (eliminated by the Bianconeri in the semi-finals of the Champions League, editor’s note). With more than 34,000 spectators present, Beaujoire was sold out. The Loire tribune also promised to erupt in order to help Antoine Kombouaré’s men to overthrow the Turin mountain. A team aligned in 5-3-2, a white-hot stadium despite the rain, cold and wind: the scene was set.
Unfortunately for the Yellow and Green, the hope of a feat quickly disappeared despite a rather conquering start to the match despite the very defensive tactical scheme chosen by Kombouaré. From the fifth minute, a magnificent goal from Angel Di Maria froze an entire stadium already well gripped by the ambient cold. Twelve minutes later, it was double jeopardy. Very severe. For having involuntarily countered a strike from Di Maria with his arm, Nicolas Pallois provoked a penalty and was expelled in the process. ADM was then not asked to transform the sentence (17th). 2-0, ten against eleven, the mass was said. A nightmarish scenario that also ruined Pedro Chirivella’s evening. Replaced by Charles Traoré because of the red of Pallois, the former Liverpool player also came out very angry.
The referee did not give a gift
At the end of the match, the Canaries did not try to challenge the superiority of the Old Lady, who won easily 3 goals to 0. But this double penalty inflicted on Pallois is still difficult to swallow. In the mixed zone, Ludovic Blas, Andy Delort or even Moussa Sissoko did not want to judge a decision that they had not yet reviewed. But for his part, Antoine Kombouaré did not hide his frustration. “I found it very severe necessarily. It’s involuntary, he’s on the ground, the arm isn’t that detached from the body. It is at the discretion of the referee but what bothers me is the VAR. Penalty, ok, but the expulsion is very severe. Now, we can talk about it for 10 years, the score is acquired”he confided in a press conference, before putting a layer in the mixed zone.
“We will talk about this decision for ten years, but it is true that it is very severe. They (the referees) didn’t feel like giving us presents today. We don’t need to talk about it anymore, it’s 3-0, full stop. Again, when there’s hesitation, you’re going to see the VAR. Once you have seen the images, you make your decision. He was dry, in all his decisions. He didn’t want to laugh, didn’t want to give gifts. He ruined the party, but I’m not in that mood. he made his decisions. Infuriating…
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