PORTO star Pepe somehow escaped a red card for a horror tackle against Gil Vicente.
With Porto trailing 2-1 and time running out Pepe desperately lunged in to try and win the ball.
But his reckless tackle caught Marlon high on his shin at a horrible angle that could have broken the winger’s leg.
Pepe somehow escaped an eighth red card of his career and he may have his team-mates to thank.
That’s because Joao Mario and Mateus Uribe both received their marching orders either side of half-time.
It is possible referee Rui Costa was more hesitant to dish out a red card and that may have saved Pepe’s skin.
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Fans felt the Portugal international was lucky not to be sent off for the tackle.
One supporter said: “Porto are so lucky they aren’t down to 8 now. Pepe with a potential leg-breaking challenge. Didn’t even argue the yellow, showed concern for his victim immediately.”
Another added: “No idea how he gets away with a yellow however it might have been a birthday present from the league.”
A third said: “Even Pepe himself knew it was a red as soon as he did it.”
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Pepe, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Sunday, could play for five more years according to Porto president Pinto da Costa.
He said: “Renewal of Pepe? I think he will play another five or six years.
“It is a monster, a competitive animal.”
Pepe has made 240 appearances for Porto across two spells, signing from Real Madrid in 2018.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
