- Gianluigi Buffon was sent off for vociferous protests after penalty award
- English official Michael Oliver gave Real Madrid last-minute penalty after foul
- Buffon was enraged and over-stepped the mark with his protests
- But he has been supported by former Juventus team-mate Leonardo Bonucci
- Bonucci, now a Milan player, has admitted he would have reacted the same way
Leonardo Bonucci has backed his former Juventus team-mate Gianluigi Buffon over his reaction to Real Madrid’s dramatic late penalty in last week’s Champions League quarter-final.
The defender, now a Milan player, admits he also would have lost control had he been on the pitch in the Bernabeu.
Buffon, playing his final Champions League match, was sent off by English referee Michael Oliver for his enraged protests at the decision to award a penalty when Medhi Benatia fouled Lucas Vazquez.
Gianluigi Buffon rages at referee Michael Oliver after Real Madrid are awarded a late penalty
The English referee decided to send the Juventus goalkeeper off for his furious reaction
Former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, now at Milan, has backed Buffon
Having clawed back a three-goal deficit from the first leg, Juventus were moments away from forcing extra time, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to convert the spot-kick and send reigning champions Real through to the semi-finals.
‘If I thought ‘thank goodness I’m not there’ when he whistled the penalty? Yes,’ Bonucci, who joined Milan last summer, told Premium Sport.
‘I thought it because maybe I couldn’t keep my instincts under control.’
Referee Michael Oliver was subjected to a rant from Buffon after the penalty award
Bonucci added: ‘Gigi is the greatest goalkeeper in the history of football.’
Madrid were draw against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals as Liverpool face Roma for a place in the May 26 final in Kiev.
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