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Copa Libertadores preview: Boca, River, Defensa, Racing, Velez, Argentinos look for glory

Roy Nemer
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The group stage of the 2021 Copa Libertadores starts on Tuesday with six Argentine clubs taking part this season.

It’s eight groups with six Argentine teams divided as we have three full days of Libetadores matches. After an all Brazilian final last year, the Argentine clubs will want to make the final this year.

Copa sudamericana and recent Recopa Sudamericana winners Defensa y Justicia are in Group A with last year’s winners Palmeiras, as well as Universitario of Peru and Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. Group B brings no Argentine clubs as Olimpia of Paraguay, Internacional of Brazil, Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela and Always Ready of Bolivia will compete.

Six time Copa Libertadores winners Boca Juniors are in Group C along with last season’s finalists Santos, Barcelona of Ecuador and Bolivia’s The Strongest. Group D brings 2018 winners River Plate, Sante Fe of Colombia, Fluminense of Brazil and Junior of Colombia.

Group E has Racing Club with Sao Paulo of Brazil, Sporting Cristal of Peru and Rensistas of Uruguay. Group F has Argentinos Juniors with Nacional o Uruguay, Universidad Catalocia of Peru and Atletico Nacional of Colombia.

Velez Sarsfield is the last Argentine club as they are in a group with Flamengo of Brazil, LDU Quito of Ecuador and Union La Calera of Chile. Group H has no Argentine clubs with Cerro Porteno of Paraguay, Atletico Mineiro of Brazil, America de Cali of Colombia and Deportivo La Guaira of Venezuela.

Here are the Copa Libertadores matches this week involving Argentine clubs:

Tuesday, April 20:
Argentinos Juniors vs. Nacional

Velez Sarsfield vs. Flamengo


Wednesday, April 21:
The Strongest vs. Boca Juniors

Rentistas vs. Racing Club

Independiente del Valle vs. Defensa y Justicia

Thursday, April 22:
Fluminense vs. River Plate

Sergio Aguero very close to joining FC Barcelona from Manchester City

Roy Nemer
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Sergio Aguero is reportedly very close to joining FC Barcelona as his Manchester City contract expires this summer.

Aguero will not be renewing with Manchester City as both club and player made the announcement last month. The Argentine has been linked with several clubs but there appears to be one frontrunner. Per a report by TyC Sports, the 32 year old is very close to joining the Catalan giants.

A legend at Manchester City, per the report by TyC, there have been intense negotiations between both parties the past few days. Having previously played in Spain with Atletico Madrid at the start of his European club career, Aguero might finally be united with good friend Lionel Messi at club level, should Messi remain at Barcelona.

Mauro Icardi injury time winner, Angel Di Maria assists for PSG vs. St-Etienne

Roy Nemer
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Mauro Icardi scored an injury time winner for PSG with Angel Di Maria providing the assist.

Icardi goal, Di Maria assist as the two men from Rosario link-up to help give Mauricio Pochettino’s team the full three points. Five goals in the second half or even five goals in the last 20 minutes with two coming in injury time provided all the late drama.

Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi both started the match on the bench for PSG and were second half substitutes. It was St-Etienne who took the 1-0 lead but Kylian Mbappe would draw level just two minutse later. It was Mbappe again who would score in the 87th minute to give PSG the 2-1 lead. St-Etienne would draw level in the 92nd minute which looked to be the final score.

However, there were two Argentine’s on the pitch who were going to play a role in the match. PSG were awarded a corner kick and it was Angel Di Maria who took it as the 33 year old’s cross found Mauro Icardi and the Argentine would head the ball into the net to give PSG the 3-2 win. That win means PSG are one point behind league leaders Lille, with both teams having played the same amount of matches.

Rodrigo de Paul scores twice and gets sent off for Udinese in 2-1 win vs. Crotone

Roy Nemer
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8

Rodrigo de Paul went from hero to villain as he scored twice and got sent off for Udinese in their 2-1 win vs. Crotone.

De Paul would give Udinese the 1-0 lead right before half time. A shot by Nestorovski was saved by the goalkeeper but the Udinese captain would get to the ball, position himself and his right footed shot would beat the goalkeeper for the first goal of the match.

Roberto Pereyra would play a part in the second goal in the Argentine connection. With the score at 1-1, Pereyra would cross it over to De Paul and the 26 year old would dribble into the penalty area and once more his right foot would beat the goalkeeper to give Udinese the 2-1 advantage.

The Argentine would get sent off for dangerous play. De Paul would go for the same ball as Molina of Crotone and De Paul would raise his right foot as his boot would hit Molina. The referee gave him a straight red card.

Now on 8 goals this season, de Paul has been an integral part of the Argentina national team and has been linked with several teams across Europe.

Lionel Messi scores twice, a golazo, as Barcelona win Copa del Rey

Roy Nemer
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36

Lionel Messi scored twice, one of which will go down in his never-ending list of incredible goals as Barcelona won the Copa del Rey.

It was 2-0 Barcelona when the Barcelona captain received the ball and went on to score one of the greatest goals in Copa del Rey final history. Messi would get the ball in his own half, play a one-two with Pedri, dribble forward, play another one two with Frenkie de Jong, give it back to de Jong, the Dutchman would hold up the ball and pass it back to Messi as he would skip pass a defender and pass the ball into the back of the net.

A truly incredible goal as words cannot do it any justice. However, Messi was not done just yet. He would score a second just minutes later. Jordi Alba would play a pass back to Messi who would score off the edge of the penalty area and make it 4-0 for Barcelona.

Messi has now scored 31 goals this season, the same amount of goals as he scored all of last season for Barcelona. This is also his seventh Copa del Rey final win.

Congratulations to Lionel Messi on winning the Copa del Rey!

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