Watch Porto hardman Pepe lead shocking 42-man brawl against Atletico as three stars including one on bench are sent off
THIS is the moment that Porto’s Pepe led a shocking 42-man brawl that led to three red cards in a chaotic Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.
Both teams went into Tuesday’s final group stage match with a chance of qualifying for the round of 16.
Atletico took the lead in the 56th minute through Antoine Griezmann but it was ten minutes later when the trouble erupted.
Atletico found themselves a man down after Belgium international Yannick Carrasco was given his marching orders for lashing out.
Carrasco grabbed the ball to try and slow the game down only to be chased by fuming Porto star Otavio.
The attacking midfielder made a grab for the ball, before Carrasco took a swipe – knocking him to the ground.
Carrasco was then sent to the floor himself, as pushing and shoving ensued.
The Belgian was red carded – while Otavio and Angel Correa were also booked in the melee.
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But it was the image of the furious Pepe, who was caught on camera with his eyes bulging and screaming in an opponent’s face, that had fans talking.
The Portuguese Real Madrid legend was subsequently booked for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’, before Wendell became the next man to be sent off just moments later.
The full-back grabbed the ball after it went out for a throw in, as Mathias Cunha raced in to take it from him.
Wendell stood his ground, with Cunha running into his elbow before flopping to the floor.
The referee bought the theatrics and Wendell was given his marching orders.
Agustin Marchesin was then sent off despite being on the bench meaning that, incredibly, the back-up keeper has now received more red cards than minutes played in the Champions League this season.
Correa went on to double Atletico’s lead in the 90th minute, before Rodrigo De Paul added gloss in stoppage time.
Sergio Oliveira bagged a 96th minute penalty for Porto, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his nine-man side from dropping into the Europa League – while Atletico qualified for the Champions League knockouts.
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