Atlético Madrid beat Espanyol 4–2 in an exciting La Liga match after going down 1–0 early in the game. The key moment came from Giuliano Simeone, who scored the goal that gave Atlético the lead at 2–1.
Simeone received the ball inside the box and finished with a strong shot across goal. The ball went into the far corner, and he celebrated by kissing the Atlético badge.
In the second half, more Argentines took the field. Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada, and Julián Álvarez all came on as substitutes and added fresh energy to the team. Almada nearly scored after dribbling past the goalkeeper, but his shot was cleared off the line.
Per reports by journalist Gastón Edul, Lautaro Martínez’s recent injury is causing more concern at Inter than within the Argentina national team setup, as current timelines indicate the striker should be available for the Finalissima against Spain.
The forward picked up the injury during Inter’s 3-1 loss to Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. While any physical issue months before the World Cup draws attention, early indications suggest the problem is not considered severe.
According to reports, Martínez is dealing with a soleus muscle tear. The expected recovery time is at least 20 days, though the exact timeline will depend on the grade of the injury. From Argentina’s perspective, the outlook remains positive.
Inter manager Cristian Chivu described the injury as “serious,” but the concern is mainly tied to Inter’s immediate schedule, which includes the second leg against Bodø/Glimt, a Coppa Italia clash with Como, and the derby against Milan.
For Argentina, the calendar provides more margin. The Albiceleste’s next major commitment is the Finalissima against Spain on March 27 in Qatar.
If medical tests confirm a standard muscle tear without complications, Martínez would have roughly three weeks to receive medical clearance. After that, he is expected to need between 10 and 14 additional days to regain full match fitness.
That preparation window is currently the focus of Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff as they monitor the striker’s recovery ahead of the high-profile clash.
Lanús took a 1-0 win over Flamengo in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, with Rodrigo Castillo scoring the goal that gives the Argentine side the edge ahead of the return match in Rio de Janeiro next week.
Before kickoff, the Brazilian team — featuring players such as Lucas Paquetá — entered as the favorite. However, Lanús matched the visitors and finished the match with the advantage.
Over the 90 minutes, Lanús executed its strategy by staying compact to limit the influence of Flamengo’s attacking midfielders. The Argentine side focused first on keeping a clean sheet through goalkeeper Nahuel Losada before looking for chances going forward.
Eduardo Salvio was part of the Lanús lineup and logged minutes in the match, contributing to the team’s work rate across the pitch.
Clear opportunities were limited for both teams. Flamengo’s best look came from Everton, whose attempt was stopped by Losada. At the other end, Agustín Rossi was in goal for Flamengo and had little intervention until the decisive moment.
Lanús, meanwhile, spent much of the match tracking back and closing spaces. The physical condition of key players such as Marcelino Moreno and Rodrigo Castillo had been a pre-match concern, and the team managed their workload throughout the game.
The breakthrough came late in the match. After having a goal disallowed for offside — his second ruled-out effort of the night — Castillo finally found the net.
Following a cross from Marcich, Castillo rose in the box and scored with a header to give Lanús the lead. The goal proved decisive in the first leg. The 1-0 result sends the Granate to Brazil with the advantage. The Recopa Sudamericana title will be decided next Wednesday at the Maracanã.
Santiago Castro scored in Bologna’s 1-0 away win over Brann in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League playoffs. The Italian team takes the advantage into next Thursday’s return match, where a place in the round of 16 will be decided.
The Argentine forward started the match and scored in the 9th minute with a left-footed cross-shot. The 22-year-old, who came through Gimnasia, reached his 10th goal of the season.
Castro was substituted at halftime, which raised questions about his physical condition. There has been no official confirmation regarding the reason for the change.
Another Argentine, Benjamín Domínguez, was on the bench for Bologna and did not enter the match.
Bologna’s next match will be at home against Udinese on Monday for Matchday 26 of the Serie A season. The second leg against Brann will take place next Thursday.
Claudio Tapia has been banned from leaving Argentina over suspected money laundering.
The AFA president is reportedly not allowed to leave the country. According to Todo Noticias, he and Pablo Toviggino, the organization’s treasurer must appear in court over a suspected laundering scandal.
