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NANTES fans paid moving tribute to Emiliano Sala at their first home game since his plane went missing — hours after seat cushions thought to be from his flight washed up on a French beach.

The Ligue 1 side were taking on Saint Etienne on Wednesday, and were joined by Cardiff City fans who had travelled from South Wales, where Sala was due to move and begin a new chapter in his career.

The Nantes faithful unveiled a massive banner in tribute to Emiliano Sala
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The Nantes faithful unveiled a massive banner in tribute to Emiliano Sala
Cardiff fans paid tribute to Emeiliano Sala in Nantes with an emotional banner
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Cardiff fans paid tribute to Emeiliano Sala in Nantes with an emotional bannerCredit: Reuters
One Nantes supporter was moved to tears by the passionate tribute to Sala
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One Nantes supporter was moved to tears by the passionate tribute to Sala

And Cardiff supporters who made the trip to France unfurled a banner during a highly-emotional game for football fans everywhere.

The banner read: "We never saw you play and never saw you score. But Emiliano our beautiful Bluebird, we will love you forever."

A large banner was Sala’s face adorned the pitch before kick-off and the powerful scenes saw Nantes boss Vahid Halilhodzic break down in tears.

Nantes match stopped in 9th min for an emotional round of applause for Emiliano Sala
Supporters paid tribute to the striker, who is missing after a presumed plane crash
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Supporters paid tribute to the striker, who is missing after a presumed plane crashCredit: AP:Associated Press
Nantes boss Vahid Halilhodzic broke down in tears
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Nantes boss Vahid Halilhodzic broke down in tearsCredit: Canal+
The players all wore t-shirts with Sala's face on during the warm-ups
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The players all wore t-shirts with Sala's face on during the warm-ups
There was a massive centre-circle banner ahead of the game with Sala's image on
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There was a massive centre-circle banner ahead of the game with Sala's image on

And the game was stopped in the ninth minute for applause, while Waris Majeed celebrated scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw by lifting up his shirt to show an image of the Argentine.

Former Manchester United and Cardiff defender Fabio, 28, was sent off during the match for unsportsmanlike conduct, in what was clearly an emotional night for the former Bluebird.

The Brazilian spent three years at the Cardiff City Stadium, at first under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before moving on to Middlesbrough and then the Ligue 1 club in the summer.

Premier League clubs including Arsenal all held moving tributes to Sala before each of their games.

Waris Majeed celebrated scoring by revealing an undershirt with Sala's image on
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Waris Majeed celebrated scoring by revealing an undershirt with Sala's image onCredit: Reuters
Flowers were laid outside the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes ahead of their game with St Etienne
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Flowers were laid outside the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes ahead of their game with St EtienneCredit: Reuters
Fans were in full voice as they unfurled scarves for the Ligue 1 clash
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Fans were in full voice as they unfurled scarves for the Ligue 1 clash
Plane cushions have been found on a French beach in Normandy
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Plane cushions have been found on a French beach in Normandy
A walker found the cushions and reported them to authorities in Normandy, 35 miles from the island of Alderney where the plane last made radio contact
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A walker found the cushions and reported them to authorities in Normandy, 35 miles from the island of Alderney where the plane last made radio contactCredit: AFP or licensors

Two plane cushions, believed to be from the missing plane containing Sala and a pilot, were found on a Normandy beach, 35 miles from the island of Alderney, where the plane was last in radio contact.

The debris was found on a beach at Surtainville by a local walker, with an underwater search due to start this weekend.

The Gunners put in a subtle but brilliant mark of respect for the forward, inscribing a small daffodil next to his name in the programme where his squad number would have been, before they beat Cardiff on Tuesday night.

Sala was never given a number at City — but he will never be forgotten.

Nantes players and fans pay tribute to Emiliano Sala ahead of Ligue 1 game
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