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Hernan Crespo’s Defensa y Justicia win, River Plate draw in Brazil, Racing lose

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Hernan Crespo’s team got a massive 3-0 win while River Plate remarkably scored all four goals in their 2-2 draw vs. Sao Paulo.

Getting their first win in the group, it was Braian Romero, Gabriel Hachen and Nicolás Leguizamón scoring the goals in a 3-0 win vs. Delfín. A lovely goal starting from the goalkeeper and played out from the back saw Braian Romero give Crespo’s team the 1-0 lead.

The second half saw Hachen unmarked inside the area as his effort beat the goalkeeper to double their lead. Once more, a great team goal with individual brilliance at the end saw Leguizamón scored the third.

Crespo’s Defensa y Justicia now sit in third place with three points, two more than their rivals from tonight and two behind second place Olimpia and four behind first place Santos.

Still in Argentina, Racing Club lost 1-0 to Nacional which saw them go down to second place. It was a penalty goal by Gonzalo Bergessio.

It was a night which saw River Plate score four goals but the match ended in a 2-2 draw against Sao Paulo. The team from Brazil took a 1-0 lead off an Enzo Perez deflection. Shortly after, Borré would draw River Plate level.

Argentina man Lucas Martínez Quarta would assist River’s second of the game. He would play the pass into 20 year old Julián Álvarez and the Argentine would score with a first touch to give River the lead. Once more it was an own goal as Angileri would score and Sao Paulo would draw level.

 

Copa Libertadores preview, Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing Club all in action

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Five Argentine clubs will be playing in today’s Copa Libertadores matches, all of which absolutely needing wins.

In the first match of the day, it’s number one Racing Club who host second place Nacional. Both teams are tied on six points.

Defensa y Justicia are in a must win spot as they are presently on zero points and last place in Group G. They host Delfin of Ecuador and a win for the Argentine club would see them jump to third in the standings.

Over in Brazil, second place River Plate face off Sao Paulo who are in third. Both teams are tied on three points and a win for every team would see them secure second spot.

Despite having many players test positive for COVID-19, Boca Juniors travel to Paraguay to play Libertad who are ahead of them in first place. A win for the Argentine club would see them go to first place while a loss would see them remain in second.

In the last game of the day, last place Tigre travel to Paraguay to play second place Guarani. Still pointless, Tigre would need the win to still have a good chance of qualifying for the knockout matches.

Here is a podcast by Boca in English previewing their match!

Lionel Messi scores two goals in Barcelona pre-season win vs. Girona

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Lionel Messi scored two goals from outside of the penalty area in Barcelona’s 3-1 win vs. Girona.

Messi scored the second goal of the match, his first with a lovely right footed shot which struck the post and into the net. The Messi show wasn’t done there as he would also get his second in the second half. A similar shot but this time with his patented left foot beat the goalkeeper for Barcelona’s third.

Still in pre-season, Messi is expected to be called to the Argentina squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

World Cup qualifiers confirmed for October, players to be released

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It has been confirmed FIFA that the South American World Cup qualifiers will be starting in October.

After having been delayed from March to September and once more from September to October, there were doubts as to if the qualifiers would begin on time or not. FIFA confirmed that the South American World Cup qualifiers would be starting at the expected date next month.

Clubs would also have to release their players for the matches as well. Meaning they cannot hold players and have to release them to their national teams.

Argentina open their qualification against the same opponent they faced in their last qualifying match, Ecuador. Lionel Scaloni’s team will play against Ecuador on October 8 at La Bombonera. Their second match will come a few days later on October 13 in La Paz against Bolivia.

Lionel Messi, who was initially suspended for the first game against Ecuador, has since had his suspension lifted and will be available for both games.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni: “If we have to play, we will”

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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni landed back in Argentina coming from Europe and spoke about the World Cup qualifiers.

With the World Cup qualifiers being delayed from March until September and September until October, there is a possibility that once more they get postponed. A final answer is expected today but upon his arrival at the airport, Scaloni spoke about the matter. Here’s what he had to say:

“We have had everything prepared for a long time now. Honestly, we still don’t know what will happen but we have everything ready thinking that we will play. After that, it will be the higher ups who decide.

“Hopefully today we get an answer so at least we know. It’s a very difficult situation, very rare. I was just travelling and the truth is that seeing airports like this, seeing the situation, it’s sad and worrying at the same time.

“The first thing is health. If they tell us we have to play, we will play. It’s a situation we have to analyze, to think about.”