In the Great West and its surroundings, we will long remember this yellow and green February 23. The defeat is there, the elimination too, but what about this tension of gladiators, of these faces of supporters ready to attack the Old Lady a few minutes from kick-off until the whistle final and more if affinities? This Thursday evening, regardless of the rain and headwinds, Beaujoire has returned to its glorious past. Probably for the last time before a paycheck, but who cares.
A very severe double penalty
They were just over 33,500 to show what an audience ready to set ablaze looked like at all costs. From 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot, they offered a sumptuous show, worthy of the most beautiful atmospheres in Europe. A sublime tifo, stands in unison, songs chanted with the guts. Everything was already in the inaugural banner of the Loire Brigade: “A city in fusion, La Beaujoire in eruption”.
Only here, the men of Antoine Kombouaré only had a few minutes of communion and hope in this 16th final of the Europa League return. The fate of this “final”, Di Maria quickly bent with his left leg of genius. The Argentinian first fired a sublime shot that froze Alban Lafont and cleared his left corner (5th minute), before repeating a dribbling festival in the area. Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez then whistled a hand from Nicolas Pallois (20th). Penalty, red card – a very severe double penalty -, 2-0. Nantes is used to miracles but this one was infinitely impossible.
Turinese not sparkling but carried by Di Maria
A man on fire on the transalpine side, one less man on the Canaries side. Antoine Kombouaré reacted by multiplying the changes (already three at the start of the second act) but without managing to disrupt the Turin machine, not sensational but wired not to flinch when the scenario is also favorable to him.
Clearly, Adrien Rabiot and his teammates – obliged to win this competition if they want to return to C1 next year due to penalty points in Serie A – did not have to force their talent. They simply managed that early advantage and countered what was left of the Nantes forces. Over the minutes, the pace inevitably dropped, and Di Maria ended up offering himself a hat-trick (75th) from the head.
Ludovic Blas promised to other European evenings
Implacable. But, you had to see, and especially hear, the clamor of the public at each yellow and green incursion during the second period. Even at 3-0, when the Egyptian Mostafa Mohamed offered a face-to-face with Szczesny (85th), the lava was ready to spring from the volcano. As if nothing should be missed from this event which was snatched up this fall during the group stages. “There is no frustration, disappointment, we were not up to the event, unlike the public, who knew how to respond. I have a lot of pride in this monstrous and unique public despite this non-match”, greeted Antoine Kombouaré, very touched by the failed start of his men but proud of the overall course.
In the city of the Dukes, we know that these moments are rare and that they will perhaps only reappear in twenty years. Today, the FCNA is in 13th place in Ligue 1. And miracles rarely sound twice in the Coupe de France, the only way still possible to hope to taste this kind of heights again next season.
The party is over but there is one who should not wait very long before finding this kind of summit. Before the meeting, Massimiliano Allegri was not mistaken in designating Ludovic Blas as the number one threat. Number ten was the author of a very fine performance punctuated by several heroic swerves. A generator of emotions that won Beaujoire’s heart for a long time, a heart that is sad but beating more than ever.
