Argentine forward Joaquín Panichelli continued his impressive season with Racing de Strasbourg, scoring in his team’s 2–1 victory over Croatian side Rijeka in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League round of 16.
The goal came almost immediately after kickoff. With just one minute played, Panichelli received a pass inside the box from Sebastian Nanasi. The 23-year-old controlled the ball with a precise first touch and finished with the outside of his foot toward the far post, beating goalkeeper Martin Zlomislic to give Strasbourg an early lead in the European tie.
Panichelli is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. The striker, who came through River Plate’s youth academy, joined Strasbourg this season after a strong campaign with Mirandés in Spain. Since arriving in France, he has quickly established himself as one of the team’s key attacking players.
Across all competitions this season—Ligue 1, the UEFA Conference League, and the Coupe de France—Panichelli has played 36 matches, scoring 18 goals and providing four assists. His scoring form has also placed him among the top scorers in the French league, where he currently ranks second.
Another Argentine featured in the match as well, with Valentín Barco starting and playing the full 90 minutes for Strasbourg.
Panichelli’s performances have not gone unnoticed by the Argentina national team coaching staff. Head coach Lionel Scaloni recently called him up to the national team, and the striker made his debut in Argentina’s win against Angola.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada approaching, the Panichelli is positioning himself as a potential attacking option for the Albiceleste. At the moment, he appears to have the edge over José López as one of the possible alternatives in Argentina’s forward line.
