Benfica legend on Nicolás Otamendi red card: Ref went too far | OneFootball

The match between Benfica and Famalicão, which ended in a 2-2 draw, is still being widely discussed, and the criticism keeps coming. In the aftermath of the clash held in Minho, several Eagles fans shared their disappointment with Benfica’s performance, but also took aim at Gustavo Correia’s refereeing.

"A completely dominant first half from Benfica, who found their goals naturally. In the second half, the team ended up pinned inside their own box under pressure. The moment when the referee failed to award a penalty for handball somewhat decided the game because, from then on, Famalicão reacted well and Benfica allowed themselves to be pegged back", began Paulo Madeira, former Eagles defender.

"As for Otamendi’s sending-off, I believe it was excessive from the referee and that there was no intent to hurt the other player. The final result ends up being somewhat shaped by wrong decisions that harmed Benfica", concluded the former footballer, in comments to the newspaper Record, about the card shown to the Argentine, who will miss the home match against Braga.

"It was a game in line with the others we have had, with setbacks. In a match where a win would have firmly put us in second place, I cannot accept that the team did not show enough winning spirit to hold on to the result, even with only ten players. It is infuriating, we are Benfica", said twice by the club’s former director, José Gaspar Ramos.

"Benfica started the match very well. Otamendi’s carelessness, which changed the entire rhythm of the game, is regrettable. The replacement of the assistant referee also contributed to the drop in performance. We did not lose, but it still feels like a bitter draw", added Yolanda Coluna, daughter of the Eagles’ eternal footballer, Mário Coluna.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.