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Copa Libertadores preview, Boca Juniors, River Plate semi final first leg

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Boca Juniors and River Plate will both play the first leg of their respective semi final matches this week as both will look to book a spot in the final.

We could be getting a repeat of the 2018 Copa Libertadores final should both teams be able to get through their Brazilian counterparts. River Plate host Palmeiras on Tuesday in their first leg match. The four time champions have made the final for the past two years, lifting the trophy in 2018 but losing out last year to Flamengo.

Marcelo Gallardo has named his squad for the match:

Franco Armani, Enrique Bologna, German Lux, Javier Pinola, Robert Rojas, Paulo Diaz, Milton Casco, Gonzalo Montiel, Enzo Perez, Leonardo Ponzio, Bruno Zuculini, Santiago Sosa, Nicolas De La Cruz, Jorge Carrascal, Ignacio Fernandez, Cristian Ferreira, Rafael Borre, Julian Alvarez, Matias Suarez, Federico Girotti, Benjamin Rollheiser, Lucas Beltran

Many familiar faces with the likes of Franco Armani and Gonzalo Montiel who have recently been called to the Argentina national team. Veterans such as Enzo Perez, Leonardo Ponzio and others have also been capped for the national team.

For Palmeiras, the Brazilians do not have one Argentine on the team.

Carlos Tevez will look to send his team into the final to lift their seventh Copa Libertadores championship. The last one they conquered was in 2007 having lost the 2018 final. Boca coach Miguel Angel Russo is yet to name his squad for the match as they play on Wednesday. Just like Palmeiras, Santos have no Argentine players on the team.

Lionel Messi provides career assist number 300 in Barcelona 1-0 win

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Lionel Messi provided career assist number 300 in Barcelona’s 1-0 win vs. Huesca.

Messi has not only surpassed Pele in becoming the player with the most goals for a single club but he has reached another milestone in his illustrious career. The Argentine managed a cross pass to Frenkie de Jong who scored the only goal of the match. This was also Messi’s 500th game in La Liga and the 50th stadium in which Messi has given an assist. Of those 300, 185 of them have been in the league.

With the Argentina national team, arguably no bigger assist than that of the Round of 16 at the World Cup against Belgium for Angel Di Maria.

Paulo Dybala scores for Juventus in 4-1 win vs. Udinese

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Paulo Dybala scored for Juventus in their 4-1 win vs. Udinese.

Dybala, like Lautaro Martinez, started 2021 with a goal. The Argentine started the match for Juventus while Ignacio Pussetto, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo de Paul and Juan Musso started for Udinese. With the score at 3-1, Dybala was played in one on one with Musso as his right footed shot beat Musso for the fourth goal of the match.

That goal was only Dybala’s second in the league this season. He now has two goals in his last three matches.

 

Lautaro Martinez scores hattrick for Inter in 6-2 win vs. Crotone

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Lautaro Martinez scored three goals for Inter in their 6-2 win vs. Crotone.

Martinez managed his first hattrick for Inter as he starts off 2021 in great form. Crotone took the 1-0 lead but it was Lautaro who scored the equaliser. He would fight off the defender and a right footed shot would beat the goalkeeper to draw Inter level.

With the score at 2-2, the ball would land to Lautaro inside the penalty area and with a left footed effort, his shot would go over the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net to give Inter the lead.

The Argentine would score his third from close range with his head to make it 5-2 for Inter and give them the win.

Still only 23 years of age, he has managed 9 goals in 15 matches in the league this season.

Gio Lo Celso, Erik Lamela, Manuel Lanzini break COVID rules, Tottenham, West Ham statements

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Three Argentine players broke COVID protocol rules in London over the Christmas period.

Gio Lo Celso and Erik Lamela of Tottenham were pictured together during the Christmas period along with team mate Sergio Reguilon and West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini. This breaks the coronavirus guidelines which doesn’t allow gatherings due to COVID.

Per unofficial reports, Lo Celso and Lamela have both tested positive for COVID. Both Lanzini and Reguilon were dropped from Tottenham’s 3-0 win vs. Leeds while Lo Celso is out due to injury. Tottenham released the following statement:

“We are extremely disappointed and strongly condemn this image showing some of our players with family and friends together at Christmas particularly as we know the sacrifices everybody around the country made to stay safe over the festive period.

“The rules are clear, there are no exceptions, and we regularly remind all our players and staff about the latest protocols and their responsibilities to adhere and set an example. The matter will be dealt with internally.”

West Ham posted the following about Manuel Lanzini:

“The club has set the highest possible standards with its protocols and measures relating to COVID-19 so we are disappointed to learn of Manuel Lanzini’s actions. The matter has been dealt with internally and Manuel has been strongly reminded of his responsibilities.”

Lanzini has since apologised for the incident on his Twitter page:

(6) Manuel Lanzini on Twitter: “I want to apologise for a bad mistake I made over Christmas and I take full responsibility for my actions. I know people have made difficult sacrifices to stay safe and I should be setting a better example. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼” / Twitter