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Lionel Messi scores twice in FC Barcelona 5-2 win vs. Real Betis

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Lionel Messi scored twice for FC Barcelona in their 5-2 win vs. Real Betis.

Messi would start the match on the bench but would play the entire second half where he would score twice and dummy on another goal. With the score at 1-1, Messi was brought on in the second half and would make an instant impact. A ball was played inside the penalty area and Messi would let it run through his legs and onto Antoine Griezmann who would score to give Barcelona the 2-1 lead.

The Argentine would make it 3-1 as Barcelona were awarded a penalty. A well placed, very powerful shot beat the goalkeeper as he would score his fifth penalty in a row. Betis would make it 3-2 but Messi would score the fourth.

A pass into Messi as the Argentine with a powerful shot into the net would make it 4-2 before Barcelona would add another goal.

Leonardo Balerdi called up to Argentina national team

Leonardo Balerdi has been called up to the Argentina national team.

Balerdi, who was not part of the initial list of 25 players, has been selected as the Olympique Marseille man will join the team for the two World Cup qualifiers this month. The 21 year old last played for Argentina last year and was not selected for the October games.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni announced his list of players for the World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru on Friday.

Three players could be called for Argentina national team to replace Gonzalo Montiel

Three players could be called up for the Argentina national team to replace the injured Gonzalo Montiel.

With the right back spot open due to Montiel’s injury, one of three players for the local league could be called as a replacement. Per a report by TyC Sports, Julio Buffarini of Boca Juniors, Milton Casco of River Plate and Fabricio Bustos of Independiente are the three in the running.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to announce the list of players from the local league on Sunday. The team will play Paraguay on November 12 before playing the second game on November 17 vs. Peru.

Angel Di Maria makes Argentina national team, squad announced for World Cup qualifiers

Angel Di Maria is back in the Argentina national team as the squad has been announced for the November World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has selected Di Maria for the World Cup qualifiers later this month. This marks the return of Di Maria to the team for the first time since last year.

As we reported earlier, Sergio Aguero would not make the team due to injury. Two other players missed out on the squad as Juan Foyth of Villarreal and German Pezzella of Fiorentina both did not make the team. Lionel Scaloni selected 25 players from abroad for the two World Cup qualifying games against Paraguay and Peru later this month.

Here’s the squad with the local league players expected to be announced in a few days:

Goalkeepers:
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Agustin Marchesin (FC Porto)

Defenders:
Nehuen Perez (Granada)
Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
Facundo Medina (Lens)
Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina)
Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax)
Walter Kannemann (Gremio)

Midfielders:
Rodrigo de Paul (Udinese)
Marcos Acuna (Sevilla)
Nicolas Dominguez (Bologna)
Roberto Pereyra (Udinese)
Alejandro Papu Gomez (Atalanta)
Angel Di Maria (PSG)
Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)
Leandro Paredes (PSG)
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis)

Forwards:
Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Joaquin Correa (Lazio)
Nicolas Gonzalez (Stuttgart)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter)

Sergio Aguero not expected to make Argentina national team, more injuries

Sergio Aguero is not expected to make the Argentina national team while coach Lionel Scaloni waits on four players.

Aguero, who missed the October World Cup qualifiers for Argentina due to an injury, was expected to make the November squad. However, another injury in October means that the Manchester City man won’t make the team.

In addition to Aguero, as we reported a few days ago, Juan Foyth of Villarreal is also out injured. The 22 year old suffered a muscle injury during last week’s Europa League match. Foyth could miss out on the two games against Paraguay and Peru.

Germán Pezzella is the third player who is also a doubt. The Fiorentina man missed the October World Cup qualifiers with a knock on his right foot, which is still keeping him out. The fourth player is Esteban Andrada of Boca Juniors who is not fully fit.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni will announce his list for the November games between Thursday and Friday with more than 30 players expected to be called to the squad.