Lionel MESSI saves Barcelona, DYBALA scores for Juventus

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March 31, 2018

Lionel Messi saves Barcelona Sevilla La Liga

Lionel MESSI saves Barcelona while Paulo DYBALA scored for Juventus.

New match, same script it appears for many Barcelona matches. With Lionel MESSI not taking part in either of Argentina’s friendly matches against Italy and Spain, the little magician was on the bench for Barcelona when they visited Sevilla on Saturday in La Liga.

With Ever BANEGA and Joaquin CORREA both starting for Sevilla, they took a 1-0 lead in the first half and doubled it five minutes into the second half. With the score at 2-0, Ernesto VALVERDE brought MESSI on and the entire match changed.

An instant impact, MESSI was involved in two plays which nearly (and should have) resulted in goals. Luis SUAREZ scored in the 88th minute to pull one back for Barcelona. One minute later, Lionel MESSI was the hero and scored from outside of the penalty area to give Barcelona a 2-2 draw.

Moving over to Italy, just like Mauro ICARDI, Paulo DYBALA was recently left out of the Argentina team and he’s back scoring. A big match against rivals AC Milan, DYBALA scored early, 8 minutes into the match in their 3-1 win. Paulo DYBALA’s shot, just like MESSI’s, was from outside of the area.

Per Opta, both Lionel MESSI and Paulo DYBALA are the players who have scored the msot goals from outside the box in Europe’s top five leagues this season. Both of them have managed 7 goals.

Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI will have his hands full in figuring out who gets on the plane to Russia for the World Cup and who stays in Argentina.

7 – No other player has scored more goals from outside the box than Lionel Messi in Europe’s top five leagues this season (level with Paulo Dybala). Rescuer.

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 31, 2018

Lionel MESSI scores for Barcelona

🎥 | MESSI IS A GENIUS! WHAT A COMEBACK! pic.twitter.com/qkJY9qkeqq

— Barca Centre Media (@centrevid) March 31, 2018

Paulo DYBALA scores for Juventus

Pjanic breaking lines, Dybala turning and popping one from a distance.

What a goal. pic.twitter.com/kXSb4OUOib

— 10 (@Rxgista) March 31, 2018

Cristian ANSALDI, Gio SIMEONE score in Serie A

By

Roy Nemer

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March 31, 2018

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Cristian ANSALDI and Giovani SIMEONE both scored in Serie A on Saturday.

Mauro ICARDI wasn’t the only Argentinian to score after the international break in Serie A. Cristian ANSALDI scored for Torino in their 4-0 away victory to Cagliari. The Argentina international scored goal number three of the match, his first goal of the season. Fellow Argentina international Nicolas BURDISSO also started the match for Torino.

It’s been a heartbreaking month for not only the footballing world but more specifically Fiorentina following the tragic passing of their captain Davide ASTORI. Former Fiorentina captain Gabriel BATISTUTA recently visited his old club when he attended a training session.

One of the players BATISTUTA spoke with was the club’s current number 9, the son of a former Argentina team mate of his, Giovani SIMEONE. Batigol reportedly told Gio:

“Don’t worry, sooner or later a goal will come and everything will return to normal. Trust in Florence, if you understand the city then it will give you a big helping hand.”

Well, BATISTUTA’s words must have helped because it took SIMEONE just three minutes before he found the back of the net. After going 660 minutes without scoring, Giovani with a poacher like finish from inside the area gave Fiorentina a reason to smile.

Cristian ANSALDI goal

Giovani SIMEONE goal

Mauro ICARDI double in Inter win versus Verona

By

Roy Nemer

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March 31, 2018

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A Mauro ICARDI double and an Ivan PERISIC saw Inter Milan pick up a 3-0 win against Verona.

It’s been a bitter sweet few weeks for Mauro ICARDI. After having been ignored for the Argentina National Team and missing out on his country’s friendly matches against Italy and Spain, Mauro ICARDI came back in regular form. That is to say with goals.

ICARDI scored in the first minute to give his team a 1-0 lead. Ivan PERISIC doubled their lead and ICARDI scored three minutes into the second half to make it 3-0 and put the match to bed.

It was a memorable match for the Inter captain as he is now on 24 Serie A goals this season which is the same amount as his personal best in Serie A which came last season.

With Gonzalo HIGUAIN not having the best of matches for Argentina (versus Italy and more specifically on Tuesday in a 6-1 loss to Spain), Argentina National Team coach could have some doubts in regards to HIGUAIN and should ICARDI continue these performances, he could see himself back in the National Team.

Per Bet365, the Inter man has now scored six goals in his last 95 minutes of football.

Mauro ICARDI double

Name me a better striker than Maurito Icardi. #InterVerona pic.twitter.com/9bH1FA7WeI

— Sampaolismo (@Sampaolismo) March 31, 2018

GOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! Anything he touches turns to GOAL!!! Mauro #Icardi makes it 3-0 | 48' #InterVerona pic.twitter.com/rmzQTr87zY

— SerieAchannel (@SerieAchannel) March 31, 2018

Sebastian BECCACECE rumored Argentina fall out

By

John

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March 30, 2018

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With Pablo AIMAR’s inclusion into the Argentina coaching staff, there are rumors that Sebastian BECCACECE could be on his way out.

As you all are aware by now, Jorge SAMPAOLI has included Pablo AIMAR as part of his coaching staff. There are widespread reports that the reason behind this is because the relationship between current assistant coach, Sebastian BECCACECE and the rest of the staff has deteriorated.

Pablo Aimar es el nuevo ayudante de campo de Sampaoli. El plantel lo eligió porque no quieren a Beccacece.

— Augusto Cesar (@Augustocesar22) March 30, 2018

AIMAR was apparently overwhelmingly voted in as everyone was in favour of him compared BECCACECE. While we’re still waiting for official news on this, surely this only adds more bad news behind the scenes for Argentina.

Pablo AIMAR joins Argentina coaching staff for World Cup

By

Roy Nemer

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March 29, 2018

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Pablo AIMAR has officialy joined the Argentina coaching staff.

After having joined the Argentina coaching staff on their recent trips to England and Spain for the friendly matches against Italy and Spain, AIMAR has now joined the staff and will be part of the team which goes to Russia for the World Cup. Per a report by TyC Sports, the former Argentina international will be on the plane to Russia.

Currently coaching the U17 team, Pablo was part of two Argentina squads which went to the 2002 World Cup as well as the 2006 World Cup. An idol of MESSI’s, there’s no doubt that the River Plate and Valencia legend can help out the younger players on the team with his experience.