#2 Joao Perreira’s moment of madness
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Joao Perreira, a seasoned Portugal international, got himself needlessly sent off in the 64th minute of the game. The right-back entered into an off-the-ball clash with Mateo Kovacic, who had fouled Joel Campbell in the preceding play.
Perreira hit out at Kovacic’s midsection despite the attentions of the linesman, who was standing at hand to try and calm the situation down after a heated exchange between the Serb and the Portuguese. Kovacic collapsed in a heap following the blow, and Willie Collum deemed it to be dangerous play from Perreira and handed him a straight red card, much to the displeasure of the home fans and the disbelief of Sporting Manager Jorge Jesus.
Sporting were on the upturn at that point in the game, trying to use their substitutes’ energy to muster a way back into the game. The petulance of their right-back cost them dearly, as Real were able to exercise even more control over the proceedings after that point in the game.
