Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami in their 2-2 draw against Austin.
Messi got the first goal for Inter Miami in their new stadium, getting them the draw. With Austin leading 1-0, it was a cross into the penalty area which found Messi and the Argentine would head the ball and score to draw Inter Miami level.
The 38 year old is on five goals this season with Inter Miami. With Austin leading 2-1, Inter Miami were awarded a corner kick and the ball would fall to Luis Suárez who would score Inter Miami’s second goal of the match.
Rodrigo De Paul, Mateo Silvetti and Tadeo Allende would also start the match for Inter Miami.
Atlético Madrid lost 2-1 to Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in a match that featured several Argentine players. Giuliano Simeone scored for the home side, while Nicolás González was sent off before halftime.
Atlético started with multiple Argentine players in the lineup, including Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás González, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and Juan Musso. Julián Álvarez did not feature in the match.
Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring in the 39th minute. The forward made a run behind the defense, controlled a long pass and finished at the near post to give Atlético the lead. The advantage did not last long, as Barcelona equalized minutes later.
The match changed before halftime when Nicolás González received a red card. Playing in a defensive role on the left side, the Argentine was involved in several defensive actions and was sent off near the end of the first half after a foul on the edge of the box.
With one player less, Atlético played the second half under pressure.
Juan Musso had multiple interventions in goal and was named MVP of the match. The Argentine goalkeeper made several saves during the second half, including stops from distance and in one-on-one situations. Barcelona found the winning goal late in the match.
Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada were also part of the starting lineup and completed the match.
Julián Álvarez was not included in the game. The forward had minutes with the Argentina national team during the international break and remained out of the squad.
With this result, Atlético Madrid lost at home before facing Barcelona again in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals next Wednesday.
Alejandro Garnacho scored in Chelsea’s 7-0 win over Port Vale at Stamford Bridge as the team advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Argentine winger came on in the 61st minute and was involved in the final play of the match. Garnacho received a pass from Liam Delap on the left side and entered the penalty area. Defender Magloire made contact with his left foot and the referee awarded a penalty.
Garnacho took the spot kick and converted. It was his eighth goal of the season and his first in four matches.
Enzo Fernández did not play. The midfielder served the first of a two-match suspension and remained on the bench during the match.
Enzo Fernández’s agent, Javier Pastore, has commented on the sanction by Chelsea.
Fernández has been sanctioned by Chelsea for two matches following a recent interview. Enzo’s agent, former Argentina national team player Javier Pastore, spoke to The Athletic about the sanction. Here is what he had to say:
“Enzo didn’t understand the situation. When the coach told him, he accepted it because he’s a highly professional guy who’s always fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions, but we don’t understand the punishment because he doesn’t mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it; he only mentions Madrid, the city, because he was asked which European city he’d like to live in one day, and he said Madrid because of the language, because it’s similar to Buenos Aires and because it’s logical — it’s only natural for an Argentine to say that — and also because of the culture, the weather … but at no point does he say he wants to leave Chelsea or London.”
Valentín Barco will be joining Chelsea from Strasbourg with an agreement in place.
Barco is going to be joining Chelsea in the summer transfer window. According to Augusto Cesar of ESPN Argentina, Chelsea have agreed to a deal with Strasbourg.
The 21 year old joined Strasbourg last season on loan before joining them on a permanent deal earlier this season. He has two goals and nine assists with the club.
