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Leroy Sane Is On The Receiving End Of Horror Challenge Against Serbia

Leroy Sane Is On The Receiving End Of Horror Challenge Against Serbia

He was lucky to escape unharmed...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Manchester City and Germany winger Leroy Sane was on the receiving end of a horror tackle from Serbia's Milan Pavkov in stoppage time of tonight's 1-1 draw.

With time running out in the friendly, Sane picked up the ball on the left and looked to jink his way through a few players but Pavkov came out of nowhere and dived in recklessly.

He went right in on the 23-year old's ankle with an absolutely shocking studs-up challenge and left the former Schalke winger in serious discomfort. Pavkov could have broke Sane's leg and was swiftly given a deserved red card.

Sane eventually limped off the pitch after receiving treatment. Pep Guardiola will no doubt be fuming with the challenge his player felt the effects of.

Particularly because only last season Sane was unfortunately hit with a similarly-looking shocker at the hands of Cardiff City's Joe Bennett during an FA Cup tie.

At first glance it looked like it was merely a cynical foul from the former Aston Villa man, but replays showed that the former Villa left-back was extremely high and a red card, as opposed to the yellow issued, would have been the correct call from Lee Mason.

Sane was forced off at half-time as a result of the injury and Germany's official Twitter account made a plea for Cardiff to stop injuring their players.

The late lunge also prompted Guardiola to stress the need for more protection from referees.

He said: "Referees have to protect - not just mine, all players. Sane will be out for a while. Maybe two or three weeks, or a month, we will see tomorrow. It's his ankle.

"I know my players, because it's not just one, there was many. They decided to play in that way. There is one man who has to decide what is correct and what is incorrect. If he doesn't anything can happen."

Pavkov, who plays for Red Star Belgrade, was making his international debut this evening and evidently took the phrase "make an impact" far too seriously.

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Topics: Football News, Football, Serbia, Germany, Leroy Sane