Three-time UEFA Europa League (UEL) champions Juventus cruised to a 4-1 aggregate knockout stage play-off victory with a 3-0 second-leg thumping of FC Nantes thanks to a hat-trick from the sensational Ángel Di María.
Despite their relatively poor Ligue 1 season, a sea of yellow provided a special atmosphere at the Stade de la Beaujoire, and the Nantes squad of the 1996 UEFA Champions League semi-final, a loss against tonight’s opponents, were present by special invitation.
Following their points deduction in Serie A, visitors Juventus will likely need to lift the trophy in this competition to experience UCL football next season, and required a win here following the first-leg stalemate.
Les Canaris fully deserved an unexpected 1-1 draw in Turin, and beckoned on by their supporters, they put the pressure on right from kick-off.
Nevertheless, Juventus’ immense quality was on display in abundance as they took the lead with virtually their first foray into the opposing half.
Di María, star of December’s FIFA World Cup final, received the ball at the very corner of the box and swept it first time into the far top corner of the goal with unbelievable curve and accuracy.
Nantes were thrown off their rhythm, and things soon went from bad to worse as Di María put them to the sword once again.
The Argentine superstar’s backheeled shot following a tricky run into the box was judged to be handled on the line by Nicolas Pallois, resulting in both a red card and a penalty which was dispatched confidently by Di María.
With the man disadvantage, the home side were forced to play on the back foot, and Juventus had numerous chances for the remainder of the half, culminating in a Filip Kostić shot hitting the post on the stroke of HT.
Requiring an even bigger task than in the first-leg, changes were made by Antoine Kombouaré at HT, but they did little to change Nantes’ fortunes.
The visitors dominated the play, with Nicolò Fagioli and Manuel Locatelli pulling the strings in midfield.
They also had chances, and the likes of Kostić and Juan Cuadrado forced good saves from an imperious Alban Lafont.
However, the Nantes goalkeeper was to be beaten when Di María rose highest to meet a deflected ball into the box and headed it just over the line for his third of the night.
Nantes finally had some meaningful chances in the final moments, but Wojciech Szczęsny could not be beaten, and the tie ended in heartbreak for La Maison Jeune.
Meanwhile, Massimiliano Allegri will see his side into the knockout round proper of the UEL, and they could now face the likes of Arsenal or Real Sociedad in the last 16.
