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Lionel Messi scores twice, assists in Barcelona 5-2 win vs. Getafe

Roy Nemer
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23

Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted another in Barcelona’s 5-2 win vs. Getafe.

Messi continued his excellent goal scoring form, once more netting twice in one match. The Barcelona captain hit the crossbar just a few minutes into the match and would score just minutes after that. A lovely ball over the top by Sergio Busquets found Messi as the Getafe backline tried to take Messi down but the Argentine continued on and his shot beat the goalkeeper to give Barcelona the 1-0 lead.

Getafe would equalize just minutes later off a Lenglet own goal but it would be Messi who would once more bail his team out.

The best player in the world would receive the ball again inside the penalty area as his initial shot would hit the crossbar but he would get to his own rebound and score to restore Barcelona’s lead.

A second own goal of the game, this time in Barcelona’s favor would make it 3-1 for the Copa del Rey winners. Getafe would get a penalty in the second half to cut Barcelona’s lead.

It was a Barcelona corner kick as the talisman would take it and find Araujo for the goal as Messi registered yet another assist for the season. A penalty in the last minute of the game was awarded for Barcelona but it was Griezmann who took it and scored.

Now on 25 goals and 11 assists in the league this season, Messi leads the Pichichi race for most league goals.

Mauro Icardi hattrick, Angel Di Maria rabona assist in PSG 5-0 win

Roy Nemer
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6

Mauro Icardi scored a hattrick and with Angel Di Maria providing a rabona assist in PSG’s 5-0 win vs. Angers in the Coupe de France.

It took PSG less than 10 minutes to score their first goal of the match. A pass into the penalty area found Icardi and his first touch put the ball behind the goalkeeper to give PSG the 1-0 lead. It was 3-0 PSG when Angel Di Maria would provide one of the assists of the season.

Angel Di Maria would receive the ball inside the penalty area, go passed his defender and provide a rabona assist to Icardi as he would score his second goal of the match. It truly was an Argentine connection for the fourth goal of the match.

Icardi would get his hattrick before it was all over. A ball into the penalty area found Icardi as the Argentine would volley it into the back of the net for his third of the match.

Argentinos Juniors start Copa Libertadores with a win, Velez lose to Flamengo

Roy Nemer
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28

Two Argentine clubs were in action on Tuesday as the Copa Libertadores kicked off.

It was one win and one loss for Argentine clubs on Tuesday as Argentinos Juniors managed a 2-0 win at home vs. Nacional. A free kick into the penalty area ended up finding Gabriel Avalos as the Paraguayan would score with a right footed effort to give Argentinos the 1-0 lead.

Carlos Quintana would get himself sent off with two yellow cards as Argentinos were down to 10 men. Despite being short a player, Argentinos would continue the pressure and it would pay off. Emanuel Herrera would score the second in the second half as the Argentine faked a shot with his left foot before shooting with his right.

The other Argentine club taking part in the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday was not as lucky. Velez took a 1-0 lead in the first half through Lucas Janson after Flamengo had come close to scoring just minutes earlier.

Not the best defending by Pellegrino’s men as Willian Arao was left completely unmarked and he would draw Flamengo level. Lucas Janson would score his second goal of the match to restore Velez’s lead. A header off a corner kick found Janson as the Argentine would score once more.

Flamengo would draw level again as Velez goalkeeper Hoyos would trip up Gabriel and the Brazilian would score off the resulting penalty. The pressure would continue to be applied as Flamengo would really take control of the game. De Arrascaeta with a lovely strike into the top corner of the goal would give Flamengo the 3-2 lead and the win.

Here are Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores matches involving Argentine clubs:

The Strongest vs. Boca Juniors

Rentistas vs. Racing Club

Independiente del Valle vs. Defensa y Justicia

Argentina in Group C at 2020 Olympics with Spain, Egypt, Australia

Roy Nemer
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8

Fernando Batista’s team have been drawn in Group C at the 2020 Olympics alongside Spain, Egypt and Australia.

Argentina’s quest for a third gold medal at the men’s Olympic football tournament will begin in Group C. The draw for the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on Wednesday as we found out the groups and matches for the first round.

The South American’s were one of four seeded teams, alongside hosts Japan, South Korea and neighbors Brazil. Pot two consisted of Mexico, Germany, Honduras and Spain. The third pot included Egypt, New Zealand, Ivory Coast and South Africa while pout for had Australia, Saudi Arabia, France and Romania.

An opening match against Australia on July 22 is what awaits Argentina. Both teams were also included in the group together back in 2008 in a match which ended 1-0 with Ezequiel Lavezzi scoring as Argentina would go on to win the tournament. The second match in the group is against Egypt on July 25, a match which depending on results, could have Argentina either mathematically into the knockout stages or even eliminated.

Spain will be Argentina’s final opponent just three days later on July 28 as what is already being build as Adolfo Gaich vs. Ansu Fati as the Barcelona youngster made headlines earlier this season with his incredible form.

Should Argentina qualify for the second round, they would either face the winners of Group D or the runner’s up in Group D, depending on Argentina’s final position in their group.

Here are the groups:

Group A:
Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France

Group B:
New Zealand, South Korea, Honduras, Romania

Group C:
Argentina, Spain, Egypt, Australia

Group D:
Brazil, Germany, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia

This is an U23 tournament but per the rules and restrictions, every team will be allowed to include three over-age players. Batista’s squad recently played two friendly matches vs. hosts Japan which ended with one win and one defeat.

An Adolfo Gaich goal gave Argentina the 1-0 win in the first match but a few days later it was Japan who ended up getting the 3-0 win in what was a dominant performance by the hosts. Batista was without a few regular squad players due to the COVID travel restrictions in Europe.

Super League, potential international player bans for World Cup, tournaments

Roy Nemer
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26

With the football world in complete shock over the announcement of the Super League, this could potentially draw problems for Argentina national team players, despite not being in Europe.

The breakaway of several of Europe’s top clubs in creating the Super League has caused shockwaves throughout the entire sport. As one of the world’s leading countries in exporting players from South America to Europe, Argentina can end up feeling the effects of it as well.

While many are opposed to the idea of the Super League, some are for it. Whichever side you stand on, there is a potential threat on future international tournaments. One threat is that any player at a club which is in the Super League could be banned from taking part in a FIFA World Cup. With the likes of Lionel Messi, Gio Lo Celso, Sergio Aguero and many others currently at one of those clubs, the threat of missing out on a tournament appears to be real. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stated the following on Monday:

“They will not be able to represent their national teams at any matches UEFA and the footballing world stand united against the disgraceful self-serving proposal we have seen in last 24 hours from a select few clubs in Europe that are fueled purely by greed above all else.”

However, Super League and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has assured that a ban will not happen. Speaking on Spanish television show Chiringuito on Monday evening, Perez had this to say:

“Players banned from international competitions and National teams according to UEFA? Don’t worry, this will not happen. They won’t be banned if they join the Super League.”

Players and coaches have come out against the idea of the Super League as new information continues to be released.

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