Real Madrid’s appeal of Nacho Fernandez’s yellow card from the match against Sevilla has been denied. Nacho will be suspended against Celta Vigo midweek.
Nacho earned a yellow card in the match against Celta Vigo. For… standing up too quickly?
"se dirige al adversario desde el suelo y también cuando se
— LaLigaEnNúmeros 🇪🇸 (@laligaennumeros) May 16, 2017
encuentra de pie, llegando a encararse con el citado adversario" pic.twitter.com/1GH1iFa9WM
Nacho perhaps looked like he was coming at Correa when he stood up, but he didn’t do anything. He made no contact on Correa, got pushed, and stood calmly not reacting.
I’m rarely hopeful when it comes to yellow card appeals, but this was an absolutely ridiculous yellow.
Unfortunately, Madrid’s appeal was denied by the review board. That means the yellow card stands, and Nacho will be missing the crucial game against Celta Vigo.
RFEF maintains Nacho's yellow card vs Sevilla. pic.twitter.com/NhMtunX3iY
— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) May 16, 2017
It appears that the ref’s reasoning is that Nacho was arguing with an opponent. Perhaps Nacho used a bit of strong language that we aren’t privy to.
Either way, Zidane must plan for the trip against Celta without Nacho.
Fortunately, both Ramos and Varane are healthy, which means he is set at the center-back position. That wasn’t true a few weeks ago, as both Varane and Pepe were out with injury, nearly causing a roster crisis at the back.
Nacho’s absence does matter when it comes to replacing the injured Dani Carvajal. When Carvajal went off with injury in the Campions League semifinal, Nacho replaced him.
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It seems that Zidane has gone with Nacho over Danilo for the tougher opponents. It was Danilo against Sporting, Deportivo, and Granada, but Nacho against Sevilla.
Zidane will have to go for a back line comprised of Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, and Danilo, and hope nobody gets hurt. Pepe might be available on the bench, as he has returned to training. The only other backup defender Real Madrid have is Fabio Coentrao.
The one upside to this failed appeal is that Nacho will get a chance to rest, so that he can be completely fresh for the final match of the season against Malaga at the weekend.