The Rennais negotiated for long minutes, the misunderstanding was so enormous. They even came to blows with the Villarreal players, who came to challenge them at the end of the match. A few seconds before the end of the meeting between the two teams, decisive for direct accession to the round of 16 of the Europa League, Lorenz Assignon thought he had offered the draw and the precious first place by shaking the nets with a beautiful strikes with the right foot. But his goal was ultimately canceled by the VAR, for a reason that was long unclear.
But this decision is indeed the right one. If we delve into the laws of the game, we find article 13 which states: “the person taking (the free kick) must not touch the ball a second time, before it has been touched by another player. »
In this case, the free kick taker, Enzo Le Fée, was the first to touch the ball, it having returned towards him after hitting the crossbar. After a pass, blocked, and a slight confusion, the ball then returned to the feet of Lorenz Assignon, who landed a shot that he thought was victorious.
Finally beaten 3-2, Julien Stéphan’s men will therefore have to go through the Europa League play-offs. Their opponent, a third in the Champions League group, will be determined on Monday during the draw in Nyon. No doubt disappointed by this second place, the Rennais will console themselves by telling themselves that this last minute cancellation was legitimate. But the short-lived euphoria will probably leave a bitter taste.
