Argentinos Abroad: Messi brings up 50 for 2019, De Paul & Chimy golazos, Icardi strikes again, Alario snatches win, Meza helps Monterrey in CWC, Papu, Ángel Correa, Dybala & more (VIDEO)

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Lionel Messi scored his 50th goal of 2019 as Barcelona defeated Alavés on Saturday afternoon to end the year top of La Liga and unbeaten at home.

The first time since 2011 that Barça haven’t tasted defeat at the Camp Nou and for Messi the ninth year over the past decade in which the Argentinian has managed 50 or more goals.

A wonderful strike from 25 yards during the second half brought up the milestone for a sixth consecutive season and Messi is set to finish as the top goalscorer in Europe for 2019.

Antoine Griezmann and Arturo Vidal had put Barcelona two-up with Luis Suárez the architect for both and after Alavés had pulled a goal back, Messi ended talk of a comeback twenty minutes from time.

The Argentina captain’s 13th La Liga goal of the season took him to the top of the scoring charts and considering injury had caused Messi to miss five games at the beginning of the season it is no mean feat.

Sevilla remain in third after a 2-0 win over Mallorca with Éver Banega key to picking up another three points on the road.

It was the former Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys midfielder’s corner headed in to give Sevilla the lead and Banega doubled the advantage from the penalty spot.

On Sunday in La Liga, the increasingly impressive Ezequiel Ávila took his tally for the season to eight but couldn’t prevent Osasuna slipping to a 4-3 defeat against Real Sociedad.

The visitors raced in to a three-goal lead but after Osasuna pulled one back just before half time and Chimy added a wonderful solo second, the fightback looked on.

Real Sociedad restored their lead but it didn’t prevent Ábila setting up a tense finale with another superb goal five minutes from time. It is with good reason that Atlético Madrid are among the admirers of Chimy and it won’t come as a surprise to see the 25-year-old on the move again soon.

And Ángel Correa served a reminder of his quality coming off the bench to earn Atlético Madrid an important three points.

With the game in Betis still goalless, Diego Simeone looked to Correa in the 56th minute and a minute later the 24-year-old struck, nicking the ball off Zouhair Feddal to round goalkeeper Joel Robles and break the deadlock.

The home team remained on top but Correa’s low cross was back-heeled into the net by Álvaro Morata in the 84th minute to seal it.

It was less good news for Paulo Dybala and Juventus despite the in-form Argentinian finding the net once again.

Coppa Italia champions Lazio defeated Juventus to lift the Italian Supercup in Saudi Arabia and hand Maurizio Sarri his second defeat as Juve manager, having won by the same scoreline in Serie A two weeks ago.

Dybala equalised tapping in a rebound after Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot saved but second half goals by Senad Lulic and Danilo Cataldi won it for Lazio. Joaquín Correa played the full 90 minutes and following the Coppa victory last season lifted his second title since joining the Biancocelesti.

Amid speculation that a January move could be on the horizon Rodrigo de Paul earned Udinese victory over Cagliari with a stunning first-time shot. Receiving the ball back from Seko Fofana, the Argentina midfielder curled the ball with his right foot into the far top corner to give Udinese the lead.

A late winner from Fofana delivered the points and now Udinese wait to see if Inter Milan make their move for De Paul.

Alejandro Gómez set Atalanta on their way to a historic 5-0 win over AC Milan on Saturday.

Cutting in from the left, nutmegging Andrea Conti before thrashing the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma, Papu’s individual golazo paved the way for Milan’s heaviest defeat in over 21 years.

Four further second half goals sealed the rout and with Atalanta sitting fifth and in the knockout stages of the Champions League it’s another positive season for La Dea.

Mauro Icardi may have dropped down the pecking order for the national team but the penalty box poacher continued his fine scoring record since joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Leading Amiens 3-1 PSG already had the points in the bag when Icardi slid in the side’s fourth for his ninth Ligue 1 goal of the season, 14 in 18 appearances in all competitions.

A strike rate that will make Icardi harder to overlook for Lionel Scaloni.

The PSG striker wasn’t the only Argentinian on target in Ligue 1 with Darío Benedetto scoring in Marseille’s victory over Nimes.

Pouncing on a rebound to score his seventh of the season, Benedetto helped the Olympiens secure a 3-1 win which sees Marseille sit comfortably second.

While those strikers have aspirations of breaking back into the Argentina squad, one of those currently in Scaloni’s favour is Lucas Alario and the former River Plate star scored an injury time winner for Bayer Leverkusen.

Alario won’t score many easier goals after Kevin Volland squared the ball but with ten men, Leverkusen needed something and Pipa’s fifth goal of the campaign nicked all three points away to Mainz.

Another of those gaining playing time under Scaloni is Nicolás González despite playing outside the German top flight and on Saturday the 21-year-old scored his fifth of the 2. Bundesliga season as VfB Stuttgart drew 2-2 with Hannover.

Stuttgart sit third as they look to make a swift return to the top tier.

In Portugal, Sporting CP came from two-down to defeat Portimonense in the league cup.

Luciano Vietto headed the important first to begin the comeback as Sporting eventually ran out 4-2 winners.

And finally in Qatar, Monterrey claimed third-place at the Club World Cup with a penalty win over Al-Hilal.

Despite trailing at half-time, the Mexican club came back and former Independiente and Argentina midfielder Maxi Meza slotted in a second as Monterrey turned things around.

The Saudi club would force the game to penalties where Rogelio Funes Mori would score one of the Monterrey’s spot kicks in the shootout win.

If you fancy taking over Argentinos Abroad for Golazo, get in touch!

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