The step was too high for Nantes / Europa League

At the end of a match where the suspense was quickly extinguished, FC Nantes lost sharply against Juventus, in the round of 16 of the Europa League (0-3).

Because these unique evenings make the salt of the European Cup, Nantes had yet to measure the benefits of their victory in the Coupe de France last spring. Beyond the additional trophy he added to his showcase, this coronation offered him this type of match on a plate. A dream poster against Juventus, like an awakening to the sweet memories of a not so distant past.

We still had to give ourselves the right to dream. And that’s what the gang in Kombouaré did a week ago. Led and often abused in the game by a more powerful than brilliant Juve, the Canaries never gave up their arms, strong with formidable tenacity, under the impetus of the talented Ludovic Blas, to hang a score of parity 1-1 . A score likely to boost an entire city for the return.

Nantes weighed down by a Di Maria XXL

It is therefore in an exceptional atmosphere that the people of Nantes immersed themselves in this second round. But once the scene was set, the hardest part began. This Old Lady may look her age this season, but she is still superior, on paper, thanks to her European know-how. The Canaries were able to attest to this fairly quickly, with great intensity in contact and a fairly destabilizing ability to accelerate in the ranks of the Bianconeri.

And the enthusiasm was showered from the outset with, in the role of the burden, an old acquaintance who has often shaken these yellow nets in recent years. It’s very simple: Angel Di Maria took care of everything, or almost. It was he who cooled everyone from the 5th minute of play on a delicious curling shot from the left (0-1, 5th). It was he, again, who caused the expulsion of Pallois – guilty of a hand on his shot – before transforming the penalty without batting an eyelid (0-2, 20th). It was he, finally, who sealed the success of the Italians with a well-felt header in the last quarter of an hour (0-3, 79th).

Under these conditions, the case had been settled quickly, obviously. And Juve also passed this match without trembling, playing as they pleased against Canaries weighed down by the scenario. It was a real battle. We expected it to be a little more contested. The people of Nantes have thrown all their strength into it, but the road ends there.