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La Liga standings: Argentine players in contention to win it all

Roy Nemer
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With only three rounds remaining in La Liga this season, Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and to a certain extend Sevilla are all in contention to winning the league.

We are almost guaranteed that at least one Argentine player will lift the league trophy in Spain’s first division this season. Atletico Madrid are managed by Diego Simeone and have Angel Correa in the squad. For FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi will look to add La Liga to his trophy cabinet for the season to go along the Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid are one of the other favorites to win it all. With no Argentine at the club, they are the only team that would not have an Argentine lifting the trophy. The other team with an outside chance are Sevilla. With four Argentine players in the squad, they represent the sky blue and white the most. Lucas Ocampos, Franco Vazquez, Marcos Acuña and Alejandro Papu Gomez will each look to lift their first league title in Spain. Here are the current standings with the remaining matches:

Atletico Madrid: 77 points
Real Madrid: 75 points
FC Barcelona: 75 points
Sevilla: 71 points

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad
Atletico Madrid vs. Osasuna
Real Valladolid vs. Atletico Madrid

Granada vs. Real Madrid
Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid vs. Villarreal

Levante vs. FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo
Eibar vs. FC Barcelona

Sevilla vs. Valencia
Villarreal vs. Sevilla
Sevilla vs. Alaves

Of the six Argentine players, five them are in contention for the Argentina national team squad for the Copa America. Lionel Messi, Angel Correa, Lucas Ocampos, Marcos Acuña and Alejandro Papu Gomez all have a very strong chance of being included in the Argentina team.

Rodrigo de Paul brilliant run, scores for Udinese in 1-1 draw vs. Bologna

Roy Nemer
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40

Rodrigo de Paul with a brilliant run as he scored for Udinese in their 1-1 draw vs. Bologna.

De Paul managed goal number 9 of the season, his first since scoring twice back in April vs. Crotone. It was a great individual run by a player who has become a pillar in the Argentine midfield for coach Lionel Scaloni.

The 26 year old would get to the loose ball in midfield, skip passed one player, drive into the penalty area and an outside of the foot shot would beat the goalkeeper for the first goal of the match. In addition to de Paul, Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina and Roberto Pereyra also started the match for Udinese.

For Bologna, it was 35 year old Rodrigo Palacio who was the only Argentine in the squad.

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

Roy Nemer
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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
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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
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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.

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