Alessandro Giallatini, a linesman, was seen crying after Aston Villa won 3-2 over RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena. RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has revealed why linesman Alessandro Giallatini burst into tears during Aston Villa’s 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig.
Giallatini was spotted crying and enjoying a moment with Rose in Germany, when both sets of players and coaches shook hands. The Italian official had watched Villa’s latest Champions League success, as Ross Barkley’s deflected strike pushed Unai Emery’s team up to third place in the table and on course for automatic qualifying to the knockout rounds. John McGinn opened the score in the third minute of play, capping off a great Villa move. Ollie Watkins headed down Matty Cash’s cross, allowing McGinn to shoot them into an early lead. Jhon Duran restored Villa’s lead in the second half, after Lois Openda capitalized on a defensive lapse halfway through the first period. After Christopher Baumgartner pegged Villa back, Barkley came off the bench and scored with a spectacular deflection.
It was Villa’s fourth Champions League victory in six games, but as the television cameras panned across the pitch, images showed Giallatini in tears.
That’s because Tuesday’s match was the 49-year-old’s final game as an assistant referee. Giallatini’s career highlights include working on Bayern Munich’s 2020 Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
“It was his last game, so he was very emotional,” Rose said in his postgame press conference. “I hope he was not sad, but rather pleased with what he witnessed in his life and accomplished as a referee. “A good story, a human story.”
Leave a Reply