Welcome to our round-up for the Gameweek ending 20 December 2020.
Lepers Abroad refers to the performances of ex-Newell’s players and coaches, along with well-known fans of Newell’s Old Boys, who now ply their trade outside of Argentina.
ENGLAND
After beating Newcastle 5-2 at Elland Road on 16 December, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United were then beaten 6-2 by rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday 20 December. It was the first time that a Marcelo Bielsa team had conceded six goals since the famous Copa Libertadores 0-6 defeat to San Lorenzo for Newell’s Old Boys in 1992.
SPAIN
Lionel Messi matched Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club in world football by scoring Barcelona’s second goal in their 2-2 draw with Valencia in La Liga. Earlier on in the week, Messi played a full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Real Sociedad (16 December).
Lucas Boyé played one half in Elche’s 1-2 away win in the cup against CD Bunol on 16 December. In La Liga, he scored Elche’s solitary goal in their 3-1 defeat to Atlético de Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on 19 December.
FRANCE
Cristian Battocchio played for 83 minutes in Brest’s 2-2 away draw at Lyon on 16 December but on 20 December he was an unused sub in another 2-2 league draw against Montpellier.
ITALY
Nehuén Paz played a full 90 minutes for Bologna in a 2-2 draw with Spezia on 16 December. On 20 December, he was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Torino.
Torino’s Cristian Ansaldi missed that game through an injury suffered on 17 December in his side’s 3-1 defeat to AS Roma.
Fernando Forestieri was omitted from Udinese’s squad in both of their games last week.
NETHERLANDS
Lisandro Martínez was a late substitute in Ajax’s 5-4 win over Utrecht on 16 December. On 20 December, he played 45 minutes in another goalfast as Ajax defeated Den Haag 2-4 away from home.
RUSSIA
Ezequiel Ponce played a full 90 minutes for Spartak Moscow who lost 3-1 to rivals Zenit St Petersburg on 16 December.
GREECE
Daniel Mancini came on after 71 minutes in Aris Thessaloniki’s 0-3 away at at OFI Crete on 19 December.
MALTA
Federico Falcone played a full match as his side Birkirkara drew 1-1 against Gzira.
SAUDI ARABIA
Éver Banega played a full 90 minutes as Al-Shabab fell to a 1-0 defeat against Al Qadisiya. Banega was in the news this week after making a generous donation to a hospital in his home town of Rosario.
UNITED STATES
Franco Escobar played for 90 minutes in Atlanta United’s 1-0 win over Club América of Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarter-Finals but it wasn’t enough for his team to go through as they lost the first leg 3-0 back in March before the Coronavirus pandemic cancelled all football.
A few days later, ex-Newell’s defender Gabriel Heinze was appointed as the new manager at Atlanta United.
Escobar and Heinze were once former teammates at Newell’s in 2014.
MEXICO
Nahuel Guzmán kept two consecutive clean sheets as Tigres reached the CONCACAF Champions League Final. On 16 December, the ex-Newell’s keeper was at the helm for a 4-0 victory over New York City FC while on 20 December he played the full match as his side overcame Olimpia in the semi-final 3-0.
They now face Los Angeles FC in the final on 23 December.
CHILE
Martín Tonso wasn’t included in La Serena’s squad this week.
Carlos Rotondi played a full match as Santiago Wanderers lost 3-1 to Palestino on 16 December while he came off after 67 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Antofagasta on 20 December.
A new Leper will now feature in action in Chile as Newell’s legend Roberto Sensini was announced as the new manager of Everton de Viña del Mar last week.
ECUADOR
Victor Figueroa played 90 minutes in Aucas’ 1-1 draw with Universidad Católica on 18 December. He was on the scoresheet two days later as his side lost 3-2 to LDU Portoviejo.
In the same game, Francisco Fydriszewski opened the scoring for the home side.
Fydriszewski also scored for LDU Portoviejo in their 1-3 away win against Olmedo (18 December) as they finished the current campaign strongly.
Victor Figueroa (14) and Francisco Fydriszewski (13) finished the season in Ecuador as 3rd and 4th top scorers.
Lorenzo Faravelli played for 72 minutes in Independiente del Valle’s 4-0 win against Orense. On 20 December, he played the full match and was yellow carded in IDV’s 1-0 away loss at Macara. Braian Rivero was an unused sub in both games.
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