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Champions League Preview: Barcelona look for history, Benfica lead

Roy Nemer
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FC Barcelona look to make history and turn around a 4-0 first leg loss in the Champions League while Benfica carry a 1 goal lead and look to qualify.

FC Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain

The definition of having it all to do will be seen on Wednesday as Barcelona will try to do something no other club in the history of the Champions League has done. Turn around a 4-0 loss in the second leg. In 2012, the Catalan club did what seemed to be the impossible and came back from being 2-0 down against AC Milan to qualify with a 4-0 win. At the time, no club had come back from a 2-0 loss in the modern day Champions League.

Lionel MESSI is obviously set to start up front alongside Luis SUAREZ and Neymar but it remains to be seen if Javier MASCHERANO will start in the back with Gerard PIQUE or if it would be Samuel UMTITI.

For the Parisiens, Angel DI MARIA, who ran riot in the first leg, appears to be a major doubt as he seems to be struggling with muscular problems. Per reports, it seems very likely that he would start the second leg, a shame for Paris Saint-Germain as he always seems to step it up against Barcelona.

Angel Di Maria Celebration PSG
Angel Di Maria, who scored in the first leg, is likely to miss out on the return match.

As for the reigning La Liga champions, it’s straight forward. Score a minimum of 4 goals to have the chance to qualify.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Benfica

Traling by a goal down, the Germans will put their 100% home record against Portuguese opposition on the line as they try to qualify against Benfica in the second leg. However the Germans will have it all to do as Benfica have won their last seven matches in all competitions, a form which includes a 1-0 win against Dortmund. For Benfica, Eduardo SALVIO seems the only Argentine player likely to start.

Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich

For Arsenal, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano MARTINEZ will be on the bench as Arsenal try and pull off the impossible, similar to Barcelona. After suffering a 5-1 loss at the Allianz in Germany, Arsenal will want to turn it around in London but qualification seems unlikely.

Ever BANEGA free kick goal, Mauro ICARDI penalty for Inter

Roy Nemer
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Ever BANEGA and Mauro ICARDI both scored in Inter’s victory.

It was a match dominated by Ever BANEGA who had a sublime game which included a goal off a free kick with captain Mauro ICARDI scoring a penalty as Inter picked up a 5-1 win against Cagliari. The Inter captain has now scored 19 goals this season while also adding 8 assists to his name in all competitions.

Mauro Icardi Inter goal
Mauro Icardi celebrates his goal for Inter against Cagliari.

Ever BANEGA’s goal:

Mauro ICARDI’s goal:

Lionel MESSI, Marcos ROJO score for Barcelona and United

Roy Nemer
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Lionel MESSI and Marcos ROJO both scored for their clubs on Saturday.

In Spain, Lionel MESSI scored twice and assisted for FC Barcelona in their 5-0 win against Celta de Vigo. MESSI’s first goal was a goal only he can pull off as he dribble passedd a few Celta players before shooting on the edge of the area and scoring. His second was similar to his first where he dribbled past a few players and scored. Those two goals bring MESSI to the top of La Liga’s scoring charts with 23 goals ahead of fellow team mate Luis SUAREZ who has 20 goals.

For Celta de Vigo, Facundo RONCAGLIA and Gustavo CABRAL both started and played the full 90 minutes for Celta.

In England, Marcos ROJO (who has been in excellent form this season playing as a CB) scored his first goal of the season in Mancheser United’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

Marcos Rojo Manchester United
Marcos Rojo celebrates his goal for Manchester United against Bournemouth.

Lionel MESSI’s goals:

Marcos ROJO’s goal:

Federico FAZIO: “I could still play for Italy”

Roy Nemer
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Federico FAZIO has stated that he could still end up playing for the Italian National Team.

AS Roma defender FAZIO has commented about his lack of call-ups to the Argentina National Team, him wanting to play with this group of players and more. Speaking to “Rivista Undici” in Italy, here’s what he had to say:

Federico FAZIO’s Italy comments:

“I don’t like the fact that I haven’t gotten the opportunity to show my worth to Argentina. There’s a lot of matches, World Cup Qualifiers, friendly matches, World Cups… Maybe they prefered to count on the group of players they have… It’s always great to get some recognition for the hard work you’re doing. Nevertheless, the most important thing is to always look to the future. About the National Team, who knows… I could still play for Italy.”

Federico Fazio AS Roma
Federico Fazio in action with AS Roma

The Buenoes Aires native has been capped three times for Argentina, twice under Sergio BATISTA and once under Gerardo “Tata” MARTINO. At youth level, FAZIO was part of the 2007 U20 World Cup winning team, the last Argentinian team to win that tournament. He was also part of the legendary 2008 Olympic team which won gold in Beijing, playing alongside Lionel MESSI, Juan RIQUELME, Javier MASCHERANO and others.

BAUZA’s squad for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup Qualifier

John
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Argentina’s National Team manager has named his preliminary squad of 26 players for the upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.

Not much of a surprise for anyone who’s been following BAUZA’s statement lately. No room for Inter captain Mauro ICARDI, as was recently stated by the coach himself. A few call-ups from South America including Lucas PRATTO, Julio BUFFARINI and Marcos ACUNA. Ezequiel LAVEZZI, currently in China, receives a call-up. Here’s the squad:

Goalkeepers:

Mariano ANDUJAR (Estudiantes, Argentina)
Nahuel GUZMAN (Tigres, Mexico)
Sergio ROMERO (Manchester United, England)

Defenders:

Gabriel MERCADO (Sevilla, Spain)
Pablo ZABALETA (Manchester City, England)
Julio BUFFARINI (San Paulo, Brazil)
Facundo RONACGLIA (Celta de Vigo, Spain)
Emmanuel MAS (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
Marcos ROJO (Manchester United, England)
Nicolas OTAMENDI (Manchester City, England)
Mateo MUASCCHIO (Villarreal, Spain)
Ramiro FUNES MORI (Everton, England)

Midfielders:

Javier MASCHERANO (FC Barcelona, Spain)
Lucas BIGLIA (Lazio, Italy)
Guido PIZARRO (Tigres, Mexico)
Ever BANEGA (Inter, Italy)
Enzo PEREZ (Valencia, Spain)

Forwards:

Angel DI MARIA (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Angel CORREA (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Marcos ACUNA (Racing Club, Argentina)
Ezequiel LAVEZZI (Hebei Fortune, China)
Lionel MESSI (FC Barcelona, Spain)
Paulo DYBALA (Juventus, Italy)
Sergio AGUERO (Manchester City, England)
Gonzalo HIGUAIN (Juventus, Italy)
Lucas PRATTO (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Ezequiel Lavezzi remains on the Argentina team
Ezequiel Lavezzi remains on the Argentina team

Argentina will play Chile at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on the 23rd of March followed by a trip to the altitude of La Paz to face Bolivia on the 28th of March.

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