Welcome to our round-up for the Gameweek ending 21st February 2021.
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
Marcelo Bielsa‘s Leeds United were unlucky to lose 1-0 away to Wolves on 19 February in the Premier League.
SPAIN
Lionel Messi scored twice last week. In the Champions League on 16 February, he put Barcelona ahead in the first half from the penalty spot but they ultimately fell to a devastating 1-4 defeat to Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG.
In the league on 21 February, it was another goal from the penalty spot for Messi but his team finished with only a point, drawing 1-1 with 14th placed Cádiz.
Lucas Boyé played started and played for 85 minutes in Elche’s 1-0 win over Eibar on 20 February in La Liga.
FRANCE
Mauricio Pochettino‘s PSG recorded a memorable win against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase on 16 February, coming from behind to beat the home side 1-4.
They didn’t have the same luck in Ligue 1 however. On 21 February, they were beaten at home 0-2 by AS Monaco.
Mauro Icardi started both games, playing the full 90 minutes against Barcelona (where he swapped shirts with Lionel Messi afterwards) and 72 minutes before being withdrawn in the Monaco game.
ITALY
Cristian Ansaldi started and played a full match for Torino who won 0-1 away at Cagliari in Serie A on 19 February.
Enzo Barrenechea started and played for 61 minutes in Juventus u19s 2-2 draw with Bologna u19s on 17 February. On 20 February, he started again and played for 79 minutes in Juventus u19s’ 0-0 draw with Inter u19s. He was yellow carded in both games.
NETHERLANDS
Lisandro Martínez was excellent in Ajax’s 1-2 away win at Lille in the Europa League on 18 February. He started and completed a full match again in the league a few days later as Ajax defeated Sparta Rotterdam 4-2 on 21 February.
GREECE
Daniel Mancini was a second-half sub in Aris’ 1-1 draw with Olympiacos on 21 February, coming on after 58 minutes.
CYPRUS
Emanuel Dening started and played for 65 minutes, also receiving a yellow card, in Paralimni’s 1-2 home defeat to Anorthosis. Adrian Lucero played the full match for Paralimni.
Lucero played another full match on 21 February but Paralimni were defeated by the same scoreline again, time time away to Apollon. Dening was left out of the squad for that game.
MALTA
Federico Falcone played for 84 minutes in Birkirkara’s 2-2 draw with Sliema on 20 February.
TURKEY
Nehuén Paz was taken off at half-time in Kayserispor’s 2-0 away defeat at Sivasspor on 21 February.
RUSSIA
Ezequiel Ponce was back in action for Spartak Moscow as the winter break came to an end in Russia. He played a full 90 minutes and was booked in a 2-0 defeat to rivals Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Cup on 20 February.
SAUDI ARABIA
Ever Banega played a full 90 minutes as his side Al-Shabab were surprisingly beaten 1-2 at home by Al-Fateh in the Saudi Premier League on 17 February. Despite the defeat, they still sit in 1st position in the league.
MEXICO
Nahuel Guzmán played twice for Tigres last week. In the league on 18 February, he conceded twice as they went down 0-2 at home to Cruz Azul. On 21 February, they got back to winning ways with a 3-2 home win over Club Tijuana.
Andrés Lillini’s Pumas continued their bad of run of form with a 0-1 loss to Club Leon on 21 February. Lillini’s job isn’t in danger yet but his side have only won once this season with 7 games now played in the Liga MX.
Santiago Solari’s Club América won their third game in a row, beating Atlas 0-2 away from home. Solari’s side are top of the league with Cruz Azul just behind them in 2nd.
ECUADOR
Francisco Fydriszewski took just 19 minutes to score on his debut for new club Aucas as football in Ecuador resumed. El Polaco opened the scoring for his side in a 1-3 win over Mushuc Runa on 20 February. He was substituted after 76 minutes.
Victor Figueroa, now Fydriszewski’s teammate at Aucas, started and played the full game as captain. Figueroa provided an assist for Aucas’ second goal, scored by Ignacio Herrera.
PARAGUAY
Luis Leal started and played a full game for Sol de America in their 1-1 draw with River Plate on 15 February. He finally got off the mark for his new club on 20 February, starting and scoring the fifth and final goal in a 0-5 rout against 12 de Octubre.
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