giorno
boob novice
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2016
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- Real Madrid
He's ahead and is moving to get in front of Hummels to cut him off. It's the entire reason why Hummels even lunges into a last ditch tackle in the first place, because he has no chance to make any other play there. Esposito has position and moves to secure it, Hummels goes for a desperate challenge that is virtually guaranteed to take him out, is late on top of that and ends up clipping Esposito's leg from behind
That's like half a second before, Hummels was level with him and beginning to push him off the ball. If you look at the first picture again, at Esposito's supporting leg and movement - that's not a step he's taking, it's not a running motion. He knows what's coming and lunges infront of Hummels in order to get fouled.
I do agree with @thepolice123 that it was high risk/reckless and that's why I can understand the ref giving it and VAR not intervening, but I don't think Esposito has any intention of progressing the attack at the point contact is made.
It's a textbook penalty