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Lionel MESSI scores against Chelsea in draw

Roy Nemer
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6
Lionel MESSI scores against Chelsea in draw

Lionel MESSI scores against Chelsea for the first time in his illustrious career as Barcelona drew 1-1 against Chelsea in the Champions League.

Something always seems to happen when Lionel MESSI plays against Chelsea, be it at Stamford Bridge or at the Camp Nou. The first time was a man of the match performance at Stamford Bridge back in 2006 where he ran circles around the Chelsea team. The second was Andres INIESTA’s memorable goal late in the match in 2009 to send Barcelona through to the final in Rome. The third was MESSI infamously missing a penalty kick against them back in 2012 which would have sent Barcelona into the final.

However, despite playing eight matches against the reigning Premier League champions, MESSI had never scored against them. Zero goals in eight matches. But that all changed on Tuesday as Barcelona visited Stamford Bridge once more. Brazilian WILLIAN hit the woodwork twice and finally struck in the second half to give the home team the lead.

Following the goal, MESSI sent in a 60 yard cross to Luis SUAREZ who may (or may not) have been taken down in the area. SUAREZ protested and Chelsea tried to play out from the back. But a pass through the middle of the Chelsea back line lead to Mr. Big Match himself Andres INIESTA receiving the ball at the edge of the Chelsea area. The World Cup hero then slid the ball back to MESSI who put it past Thibault COURTOIS to score his first goal against Chelsea but more importantly draw Barcelona level.

Lionel Messi scores Chelsea but the Blues tried to stop him.
Lionel Messi scores Chelsea but the Blues tried to stop him.

With the away goal rule in play, Barcelona technically lead going into the second leg at the Camp Nou.

Lionel MESSI scores against Chelsea

Following the match, the BT Sport panel (Gary LINEKER, Steven GERRARD, Frank LAMPARD and Rio FERDINAND) all spoke about MESSI. Here’s what they had to say:

MESSI has now scored 18 goals against English teams in the Champions League, more than any other player in history.

Lionel MESSI: 18 goals
Cristiano RONALDO: 11 goals
Thomas MULLER: 9 goals
Samuel ETO’O: 8 goals
Edinson CAVANI: 8 goals

Lionel MESSI goals:
Arsenal: 9 goals
Manchester City: 6 goals
Manchester United: 2 goals
Chelsea: 1 goal

Champions League Round of 16 Preview 2

Roy Nemer
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2
Champions League Round of 16 Preview 2

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 continues this week!

Tuesday and Wednesday means the second (and final) set of Champions League Round of 16 action. Last week saw Gonzalo HIGUAIN scoring a pair and Sergio AGUERO also finding the back of the net. Here are this week’s matches:

Champions League Round of 16 – Tuesday:

Bayern Munich vs. Besiktas
Chelsea (Willy CABALLERO) vs. FC Barcelona (Lionel MESSI)

Wednesday:

Sevilla (Ever BANEGA, Joaquin CORREA, Guido PIZARRO, Nicolas PAREJA, Gabriel MERCADO) vs. Manchester United (Sergio ROMERO, Marcos ROJO)
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. AS Roma (Diego PEROTTI, Federico FAZIO, Jonathan SILVA)

London’s showdown is the big one with Chelsea hosting FC Barcelona. Lionel MESSI has never scored against Chelsea and last time around he missed a crucial penalty kick at the Camp Nou which would have taken them through to the final. Willy CABALLERO will start on the bench for Chelsea.

Lionel MESSI vs. Chelsea – 2006

Diego PEROTTI will look to add to his goal scoring form as AS Roma are away to Shakhtar Donetsk.

In Spain involving Sevilla and Manchester United is the one with the most Argentinians involved, with five players with Sevilla and two with Manchester United.

Diego PEROTTI, Jonathan CALLERI, Angel DI MARIA all score

Roy Nemer
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2
Diego PEROTTI, Jonathan CALLERI, Angel DI MARIA all score

Diego PEROTTI, Jonathan CALLERI and Angel DI MARIA were all on target this past weekend.

AS Roma’s Argentinian forward found the back of the net for his club in their 2-0 win against Udinese. PEROTTI, who’s been in a few recent Argentina National Team squads under coach Jorge SAMPAOLI, will be hoping to make the Argentina team for next month’s matches against Spain and Italy. Should PEROTTI succeed in doing so, a spot in Russia could be on the cards for the former Boca man.

From one former Boca Juniors man to another, Jonathan CALLERI scored for Las Palmas in their 2-1 loss to Sevilla. The goal was CALLERI’s sixth of the season. During the match, Joaquin CORREA was substituted off due to an injury.

In France, Angel DI MARIA was on the scoresheet as PSG picked up a 5-2 win against Strasbourg to go 12 points clear at the top of the French table. DI MARIA started the match after having not played a minute in their 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Diego PEROTTI goal:

Jonathan CALLERI goal:

Angel DI MARIA goal:

An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN forces him off

Roy Nemer
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9
An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN forces him off

An injury for Gonzalo HIGUAIN has forced him off for Juventus.

A big scare for the current Serie A champions as Gonzalo HIGUAIN limped off early with a suspected ankle injury. It’s getting to the point in the European club season where the matches and coming thick and fast and players’ fitness levels become a concern. For Juventus, their number 9 has gotten hit.

HIGUAIN was substituted off in the 15th minute in the Turin derby. The extent of the injury remains unknown. However, with the Old Lady having just come off a 2-2 draw in the Champions League against Tottenham and the Argentina National Team playing next month, the blow for HIGUAIN is a big one.

Jorge SAMPAOLI has strongly been rumored to call Pipita up to the team for the matches against Spain and Italy in March. It would mark the first time HIGUAIN has been in the Argentina squad since the June friendly matches against Brazil and Singapore.

Regarding Argentina, a regular under Jorge SAMPAOLI’s reign, Eduardo SALVIO was recently operated on. While the severity of HIGUAIN’s injury remains unknown, we hope he won’t require surgery.

Willy CABALLERO or Franco ARMANI to Argentina squad

Roy Nemer
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16
Willy CABALLERO or Franco ARMANI to Argentina squad

One of Willy CABALLERO or Franco ARMANI is expected to make the Argentina squad for next month’s matches.

The third place goalkeeping position is still up for grabs, with Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI still undecided between Chelsea man Willy CABALLERO and River Plate’s Franco ARMANI, according to TyC Sports. One of the two will make the squad for the matches against Italy and Spain next month.

Willy CABALLERO

In Willy CABALLERO’s case, he has never been capped for the Argentina National Team. Although the former Manchester City goalkeeper did win an U20 World Cup with his country back in 2001 with that legendary squad. He was in excellent form heading into the 2014 World Cup and was knocking on the door of the National Team but then coach Alejandro SABELLA opted to go with a trio of Sergio ROMERO, Agustin ORION and Mariano ANDUJAR in Brazil.

Franco ARMANI

For Franco ARMANI, he’s a Copa Libertadores winner having won it back in 2016 and also has a Recopa Sudamericana medal from 2017 hanging in his cabinet. Agustin MARCHESIN and Geronimo RULLI’s spots in the Argentina National Team just got that much more difficult to maintain.

If you missed int, former Banfield player and Itay capped Ezequiel SCHELOTTO could receive a call-up to the Argentina squad as well for next month.

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