Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini strike as Argentina down Italy without Lionel Messi
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ByEurosport
Updated 23/03/2018 at 22:25 GMT
International friendly, Etihad Stadium – Argentina 2 (Banega 75, Lanzini 85) Italy 0
Ever Banega of Argentina scores his sides first goal during the International friendly match between Italy and Argentina at Etihad Stadium on March 23, 2018 in Manchester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini struck in the second-half as Argentina warmed up for the World Cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Italy at the Etihad Stadium – as the injured Lionel Messi watched on from the stands.
Italy had their veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to thank for keeping Jorge Sampaoli’s side at bay until the 75th minute when Banega - the Sevilla midfielder - played a clever one-two with Giovani Lo Celso before drilling a powerful low shot into the bottom corner.
The Azzurri - who were under the stewardship of interim manager Luigi Di Biagio - are still searching for their first goal since a 1-0 success over Albania in October and they were caught on the break for Argentina’s second when Lanzini curled a powerful effort into the top corner.
It had been one-way traffic for much of the first period as Argentina probed for the opener, but Buffon, winning his 176th-cap, was in outstanding form to keep Sampaoli’s front-four out.
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Luigi Di Biagio - Argentina-Italia - Friendly match 2018 - Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi had an opportunity to score on his club ground but his powerful header was expertly pushed away by the 40-year-old, while Buffon also denied his Juventus team-mate Gonzalo Higuain from close range with a breath-taking one-handed save.
After the restart, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile spurned a couple of great opportunities to give the Italians the lead, before Buffon was finally beaten twice in the last 15 minutes as Argentina grabbed a deserved win.
Argentina hope to have Messi - missing with a muscle problem - match-fit for the friendly against Spain in Madrid on Tuesday evening as they prepare for Russia 2018, on the same night Italy will strive to get back to winning ways against England at Wembley.
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Argentina’s Lucas Biglia
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT - Buffon silences critics with exemplary performance
The veteran goalkeeper was forced to hit back at critics who weren’t happy about his decision to continue playing for his country, in the build-up to this friendly. He needn’t have bothered opening his mouth as his sublime performance was enough to silence anyone foolish enough to question his ability.
There are obviously deep and various problems within the Italy squad – they haven’t scored in 287 minutes of football – but their goalkeeper remains one of the best on this planet.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
The 40-year-old justified his manager's decision to retain his captaincy. He may be in his fourth decade, but Buffon is showing no signs of slowing up and was Italy's standout player by some distance.
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Gianlugi Buffon of Italy shows appreciation to the fans during the International friendly match between Italy and Argentina at Etihad Stadium on March 23, 2018 in Manchester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Argentina: Caballero 7, Bustos 7, Otamendi 7, Fazio 7, Tagliafico 7, Paredes 6, Biglia 6, Lanzini 8, Lo Celso 8, Di Maria 7, Higuain 6. Subs: Mercado N/A, Pavon 5, Perotti 6, Banega 8.
Italy: Buffon 9, Florenzi 5, Bonucci 6, Rugani 6, De Sciglio 6, Parolo 6, Verratti 7, Jorginho 6; Chiesa 8, Immobile 6, Insigne 6. Subs: Belotti N/A, Cutrone 5, Cristante 5, Zappacosta 5, Pellegrini 5, Candreva 6.
KEY MOMENTS
16’ – BUFFON SAVE! He's still got it, you know. Buffon gets down quickly to push away Otamendi's powerful low headed effort.
38’ - INCHES WIDE! Paredes is no stranger to a long-distant effort and he accepts Italy's invitation to shoot when he is left in space from 30 yards. He really catches a hold of the ball but his in-swinger curls just wide, perhaps clipping the post before it goes out of play.
45’ - GREAT SAVE! Wow. Di Maria's beautiful weighted-pass releases Higuain who has time to glance at Buffon before trying to poke the ball underneath the Italian goalkeeper. But the veteran somehow keeps it out with a one-handed stop.
47’- MISS! Dear me, Insigne. Paredes' back-pass is shocking as he gifts possession straight to Immobile. He sneaks a pass through to Insigne, who only has the goalkeeper to beat. Somehow, though, he curls the ball wide of the goal. Unforgivable miss.
58’ - CLOSE! Excellent wing play from Italy’s debutant Chiesa. He drills a lovely ball across the face of goal but Caballero sticks out his hand and takes it from the feet of Insigne. Wonderful goalkeeping.
60’ - CHANCE! Verrati clips a pass over the top, picking out Immobile! But on his weaker left foot, he can't quite engineer the ball past Caballero.
68’ - DOUBLE SAVE! Insigne times his run to perfection to latch onto a ball over the top, but his shot is well saved by Caballero. Jorginho tries to find the net with a curled shot from the top of the box but the Argentina goalkeeper had gathered himself to make a comfortable stop.
75’ - GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Italy (Banega): Finally, the breakthrough! Jorginho concedes possession in midfield, Banega plays a neat one-two with Lo Celsa before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.
85’ - GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Italy (Lanzini): Italy are caught on the counter-attack and Lanzini makes them pay. Argentina burst forward in numbers, it's a three vs two situation, Higuain unselfishly passes to Lanzini who wrong-foots a defender, before bending the ball into the top corner from the top of the box, leaving Buffon helpless.
KEY STAT
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