Lionel Messi 100 goal milestone, BATTAGLIA, more

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March 16, 2018

Lionel MESSI reaches 100 goals in the Champions League, Rodrigo BATTAGLIA proves to be a hero while Angel CORREA, Lucas OCAMPOS and Sebastian DRIUSSI all scored in the Europa League.

It was another Lionel MESSI masterclass at the Camp Nou as he scored twice and had an assist in Barcelona’s 3-0 win against Chelsea. The first goal was the quickest in MESSI’s career coming in the second minute which set the tone for the Argentinian’s performance for the night.

As someone who was there in the stands for that match, watching MESSI in the flesh once more left me in awe. If you’ve never seen him play in person before, go out of your way in trying to do so because there are some things which cannot be seen or fully appreciated on television and Lionel MESSI is one of those things.

From the Champions League to the Europa League, Rodrigo BATTAGLIA scored the match winner for Sporting CP in extra time in their 3-2 aggregate win against Viktoria Plzen.

From Portugal to France (technically Spain as the match was held in Spain) River Plate alumni Lucas OCAMPOS scored against Athletic Bilbao in Bilbao to give Marseille a 2-1 win and a ticket to the next round of the Europa League.

Still in Spain, Diego SIMEONE’s men made light work of Lokomotiv Moscow as Angel CORREA scored in their 5-1 demolition.

Going more north in Europe, another former River Plate man, Sebastian DRIUSSI, found the back of the net, this time for Zenit St. Petersburg in their 1-1 draw (and elimination) against RB Leipzig. Along with DRIUSSI, Emiliano RIGONI, Matias KRANEVITTER and Leandro PAREDES all started for the Russian club.

Lionel MESSI versus Chelsea

https://youtu.be/cNkNVl860DQ

Rodrigo BATTAGLIA goal

https://youtu.be/aibVqetaQGg

Lucas OCAMPOS goal

https://youtu.be/C0wagXpb7VM

Angel CORREA goal

https://youtu.be/apjrXTicU_E

Sebastian DRIUSSI goal

https://youtu.be/VaWn5j2fTbM

As I stated in an earlier post, I am presently in Barcelona until Monday which means updates will be a little slow or delayed until Tuesday!

Local based players announced for Argentina

By

Roy Nemer

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March 12, 2018

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Lautaro Martinez Argentina — Photo courtesy of ESPN

The local list of players has been announced for the Argentina squad.

It’s been rumored for the past few weeks and now it has happened. The Racing Club wonderkid Lautaro MARTIEZ has made the Argentina list. Along with MARTINEZ, Cristian PAVON, Fabricio BUSTOS, Pablo PEREZ and Maxi MEZA are all included. No real surprises from the list coming out of South America.

Here’s the full Argentina team:

Argentina squad for the matches vs. Italy, Spain

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, this week will be slow as I am currently in Spain until Monday. I will try to update as much as possible until then!

Gonzalo HIGUAIN on Argentina return: “I’m happy about it”

By

Roy Nemer

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March 9, 2018

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Gonzalo Higuain Argentina return Juventus

Gonzalo HIGUAIN commented on his Argentina return and the World Cup.

Hot off the heels of a big 2-1 win in the Champions League with Juventus against Tottenham, HIGUAIN commented on his return to the Argentina National Team. Having only been included in Jorge SAMPAOLI’s initial Argentina squad against Brazil and Singapore, Gonzalo was later left out of the remaining World Cup Qualifying and friendly matches.

Back in the team for the matches against Spain and Italy, HIGUAIN spoke with Marca about his return and the World Cup. Here’s what he said:

Gonzalo HIGUAIN on his Argentina return

“Happy about it. Two important matches, one of them against Spain, which will be a good opportunity to show the potential of Argentina facing the World Cup. I enjoy the national team and there are still important challenges.

How far can Argentina go in the World Cup?

“With humility, but we aspire to win everything, but first the two friendlies of this month and then to think about the World Cup. It’s time to be Calm.

Andres D’ALESSANDRO on not being in 2010 Argentina squad

By

Roy Nemer

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March 8, 2018

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Andres D’ALESSANDRO spoke about Diego MARADONA and regarding the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

D’ALESSANDRO has had a storied career. An extremely talented playmaker, he only ever got 28 caps for the Argentina National Team. Juan Roman RIQUELME, Pablo AIMAR and Juan Sebastian VERON were always ahead of the former River Plate man in the pecking order for the Argentina. However, his time in Brazil with Internacional was a successful one, having won the Copa Libertadores in 2010 with the club.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup coinciding with the peak of his career and Diego MARADONA infamously calling up over 100 players, it was strange that D’ALESSANDRO never got a chance under Diego. In a recent interview with Perros de la Calle, the 2004 Olympic Gold medalist spoke about not even making an Argentina list during that time. Now 36 years old, here’s what he had to say:

Andres D’ALESSANDRO on the Diego MARADONA and the 2010 World Cup:

“2010 was one of the best years of my career. It was really strange not being called up. after having played five finals in 2009 in Brazil and being voted as the best player in the America’s. He didn’t even call me up to the squad. If I remember correctly, at the time, about 130 players were called.”

“It was more than just football. My brother was in a relationship with one of his daughters. I never spoke to him about it but there are certain things you know about,”

“I respect him, El Diego is El Diego for me too. I have my opinion and he has his. I still have my thoughts about it and no one will change my mind about it. I know what happened and I can imagine how it was. But anyways, that was years ago.”

Following MARADONA’s departure and with Sergio BATISTA at the helm, D’ALESSANDRO was called-up for a few friendly matches but did not make the 2011 Copa America squad for Argentina.

Gonzalo HIGUAIN, DYBALA sink Tottenham in Juventus win

By

Roy Nemer

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March 8, 2018

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Gonzalo Higuain Paulo Dybala Juventus Tottenham

Gonzalo HIGUAIN and Paulo DYBALA sank Tottenham as they each scored in a 2-1 win.

The first set of matches for the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League is over and two Argentinians played hero’s for Juventus. Following a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Tottenham took a first half lead at Wembley, meaning that Juventus absolutely needed at the very least two goals to stay in the competition.

Two goals is exactly what they got from their two forwards to eliminate Mauricio POCHETTINO’s Tottenham from the Champions League. The first coming from Gonzalo HIGUAIN, a poacher like finish from the Juventus number 9 saw them draw level and give the old lady the boost of confidence it certainly needed to get a second goal.

Paulo Dybala has now scored 19 goals in all competitions for Juventus this season, equalling his total for Juventus last season.

He’s done it in 16 games less. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lTheHhY0U6

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 7, 2018

Having scored a match winner in the 93rd minute, Paulo DYBALA scored another winner this time just minutes after HIGUAIN’s goal. DYBALA beat the offside trap and was one on one with Hugo LLORIS and the Argentinian jewel did not make a mistake and excellently fired the shot into the net.