Home Blog Page 1057

Lautaro Martinez scores penalty for Inter in 5-1 win vs. Sampdoria

Roy Nemer
-
19

Lautaro Martinez went five games without scoring but he finally netted in Inter’s 5-1 win vs. Sampdoria.

Martinez did not let the league celebrations get in the way of scoring. It was 4-1 Inter when they were awarded a penalty and up stepped the Argentine. A great penalty by Lautaro as it was struck with power and well placed as he scored the fifth of the match.

This was the Argentine’s first goal since April 7 vs. Sassuolo. If you missed it, Lautaro recently spoke about Argentina and the team’s chances at the Copa America.

Lautaro Martinez talks Argentina, Copa America, Lionel Messi, Inter, Barcelona

Roy Nemer
-
32

Lautaro Martinez commented on Argentina and the Copa America, his relationship with Lionel Messi, winning the league with Inter and nearly joining FC Barcelona.

Martinez recently won his first league title and played a pivotal role up front as he and Lukaku formed a formidable partnership in attack. It’s the Copa America with Argentina up next with two World Cup qualifying matches coming just days before the start of the tournament.

Helping Inter win a league title for the first time in a decade, Lautaro will be looking to him Argentina win their first senior international trophy in over two decades.

Speaking in an interview on Libero of TyC Sports, here’s what the Inter man had to say regarding the Copa America:

“We know what Brazil can do, we have our own thing. We don’t believe ourselves to be candidates but yes, we do do our job and we try to do the best for our country and our team.

“As a group, we are growing, on the pitch too. We are on the right track. Hopefully we can continue with what the coach has drawn for us and move forward achieving things.”

In regards to Lionel Messi:

“Every time we see each other, we talk. Be it on or off (the pitch). We know each other. It’s been a while now that we have been sharing the pitch together with the Argentina national team. Listen, he knows the movements I can make and I know the moves that he can make.”

The 23 year old also spoke about his defensive responsibilities at the Copa America under coach Lionel Scaloni and how that has helped him with Inter:

“It helped me a lot. From there, I got a coach at Inter (Conte) who asked a lot of me defensively, that today I am doing naturally because it made me grow a lot in that sense. I’m very happy.”

And finally, regarding winning the league with Inter:

“I’m happy for what I’m living, for the championship we just won. It had been a while that it was the same team winning (Juventus). Inter stayed 10 or 11 without lifting a trophy and I believe we did a great job in the league. We are worthy champions for what we did all year and the lead we have over the second place team.”

Speaking in a separate interview with ESPN Argentina, Lautaro revealed that he was close to joining FC Barcelona:

“I was truly very close to joining Barcelona and I even talked it over with Messi. However, the Blaugrana had economic problems at that moment, so I decided to stay at Inter. It proved to be the right decision, especially as we then won the Scudetto.

“It’s just incredible to win the title at such an important club.”

Sergio Aguero and Manchester City make Champions League final

Roy Nemer
-
50

Sergio Aguero will finally take part in a Champions League final for Manchester City.

A decade long journey with the club will finally lead Aguero to a Champions League final as he says goodbye to the club. A 2-1 win in the second leg of the semi-finals vs. PSG could mean that the Argentine gets his dream exit out of Manchester.

It’s the biggest trophy in club football and it’s the one trophy that has eluded Aguero throughout his career. A winner of the UEFA Super League with Atletico Madrid, Aguero has already lifted a European trophy but never one with Manchester. Now on his way out, Aguero is in his first Champions League final.

With two goals so far in the competition this season, no doubt the 32 year old will be looking for a third in the final. Manchester City will play the winner of today’s clash between Chelsea and Real Madrid on May 29 in Istanbul.

Rodrigo Palacio scores hattrick for Bologna, sets new Serie A record

Roy Nemer
-
70

Rodrigo Palacio scored a hattrick for Bologna as he set a new Serie A record in their 3-3 draw vs. Fiorentina.

Palacio continues to score and this time even breaking records. Despite all of the Serie A headlines going to Inter for winning the league, 39 year old Palacio made headlines as well. With Fiorentina leading 1-0, a pass into the penalty area found Palacio and his first time effort would beat the goalkeeper to draw Bologna level.

Fiorentina would retake the lead but once more, Palacio with a goal. A cross sent into the penalty are found the flying rat tail and his well placed header would get the better of the goalkeeper.

The 39 year old would make history before it was all over. For the third time in the match, Fiorentina would take the lead and for the third time it would be Palacio who would score. A pass into the area found the Argentine as he would take a touch, control the ball and place it in the corner of the goal.

That goal would create Serie A history. Per Opta, Rodrigo Palacio is now the oldest player to score a hattrick in Serie A at 39 years and 86 days.

Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez win Eredivisie title with Ajax

Roy Nemer
-
1

Nicolas Tagliafico and Lisandro Martinez both won the Eredivisie with Ajax.

A big congratulations to both Argentine players as well as the club for winning the league in the Netherlands. For Tagliafico, that league title is his second since joining the club and fifth overall in the country, having also won two KNVB Cup titles and a Dutch Super Cup.

For Lisandro Martinez, it’s his first league title and third trophy in total, having also won the KNVB Cup and Dutch Super Cup this year.

Tagliafico took part in 25 league matches this season with Martinez playing in 23 matches. Martinez has started Ajax’s last 10 league matches and played 90 minutes in all of them. Tagliafico has started the last eight matches.

Both men have been included in Argentina’s preliminary list of 50 players for the Copa America. Nicolas Tagliafico will surely be included while Lisandro Martinez’s inclusion is not confirmed. It’s very possible that the 23 year old takes part in the Olympics for Argentina and misses out on the Copa America.

Congratulations once more to both men and Ajax for winning the league!

1...1,0561,0571,058...1,706Page 1,057 of 1,706