One of the goals of the weekend, if not the goal of the weekend, was scored by Roma’s Leandro PAREDES in their 4-1 win against Torino. After having come back from his European trip, Edgardo BAUZA stated that Mauro ICARDI would not be called-up. With his team already 2-0 up, PAREDES decided to hit the ball on the half volley and in the process he scored his third goal in the league this season.
Leandro Paredes celebrating a goal
PAREDES and the National Team:
We hope that BAUZA was watching this match as there’s nothing much more PAREDES can do to earn a call-up.
Lionel MESSI earned Barcelona a draw with a last minute penalty giving the team a 2-1 win against Leganes.
It wasn’t a good week for Barcelona and it looked to be going from bad to worse for the Catalan club until MESSI slotted the ball into the back of the net in the 90th minute. After having suffered a 4-0 loss to Angel DI MARIA’s PSG in the Champions League earlier, Barcelona was struggling at home to bottom half of the table Leganes.
Messi against Leganes:
Barcelona’s number 10 opened the scoring in the first few minutes following an outside of the foot pass by Luis SUAREZ and it looked like it was smooth sailing for Barcelona. However as the match went on, Leganes started gaining momentum and equalized in the second half. The match was heading towards a draw until Neymar got taken down and a penalty was awarded for the home team. Up stepped Lionel MESSI and a well taken penalty kick handed Barcelona the victory. But such has been the week for MESSI, he didn’t celebrate.
Marcelo BIELSA will be managing French club Lille next season.
An agreement has been reached between Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille and former Argentina national team manager, Marcelo BIELSA. The club’s director of football Marc INGLA has just made the announcement via the club’s website reporting that BIELSA will be taking over as coach for the 2017-2018 season.
Lille, Marseille and Lazio
BIELSA will sign a two year deal which will take effect July 1, 2017, confirming BIELSA’s return to French football. His previous stint in France was with Marseille which lasted for only one season. He had later agreed to manag Serie A club Lazio but quit his job 48 hours later, never actually taking the pitch with the team. BIELSA, now 61, will take over his 11th team, nine of which have been clubs and two National Teams. Here’s his breakdown:
Newell’s Old Boys (1990-1992)
Atlas (1992-1994)
Cmerica (1995-1996)
Velez Sarsfield (1997-1998)
Espanyol (1998)
Argentina (1998-2004)
Chile (2007-2011)
Athletic Bilbao (2011-2013)
Marseille (2014-2015)
Lazio (2016)
Marcelo Bielsa to coach Lille as of July
Statement from general director:
“Marcelo BIELSA is without a doubt one of the most respected and most influential coaches in the world and attracting him to Lille is a great satisfaction. Also a show of proof at the club’s ambitions. It’s not a secret, Gerard LOPEZ and Marcelo BIELSA are close and have been talking for quiet some time about this opportunity. We’ve always thought that BIELSA was the best one (for the job), as much for his football philosophy and experience, his work ethic, his professionalism, building with us a project and Lille’s future victories. We answered all his questions in order for him to join us. Even if we are absolutely concentrated on the upcoming matches and the highly important objectives for the end of the season with Franck PASSI, it’s very big good news that we announce it today for Lille’s tomorrow.”
The other day it was Singapore and now the latest news is that Argentina could be heading to Indonesia for a friendly match against the National Team side (known as Timnas Indonesia) on the 13th of July.
Though nothing official, the Director of International Relation, officer Hanif THAMRIN has confirmed that there are talks with promoters of trying to get the Albiceleste to come this July to play a friendly match. As always when it comes these kind of things, we will wait for the official announcement from the AFA but there is no doubt that the Argentina fan base in Indonesia is massive. All I can think of is what a crazy atmosphere its going to be!
Not only does Argentina have a huge following in Indonesia but for anyone who follows Indonesian football will know that the football supporters are as mental as those from Argentina,
Paulo DYBALA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN both scored for Juventus in a 4-1 win.
Juventus continued to wreak havoc in Serie A as they moved 10 points clear at the top of the standings in Italy with a 4-1 win against Palermo. Paulo DYBALA scored twice against his old club and provided an assist for fellow Argentine Gonzalo HIGUAIN.
Paulo Dybala celebrating with a Palermo shirt.
The new MESSI:
Prior to the match, Palermo president Maurizio ZAPARINI (who brought DYBALA in to the club from Argentina) had this to say about the Argentine jewel:
“We are talking about the new MESSI. He will become a player like Messi and he is already at that level. Ok, he does not score as much as last season, but he is always man of the match for Juventus whenever I see him play. He is the type of attacker who plays for the team and puts others in the position to score.”
“I would say he is worth €140 or €150 million. Like I said, he is the new Messi. I have been saying that he is destined to become a star ever since he arrived at Palermo. I hope he will stay at Juventus. I think they can hold on to him. But of course there will be approaches. World-class players are always coveted by everyone. But I hope he will stay at Juventus for a long time.”
DYBALA provided the assist on HIGUAIN’s goal when the number 9 chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. On DYBALA’s second goal, HIGUAIN provided a back-heel assist for the goal. Just another day at the office for both Paulo DYBALA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN.
Paulo DYBALA’s impressive free kick from different angles:
