The Argentina national football team will host Peru in their upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers clash at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Argentina vs Peru, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers will start at 5:30 AM IST on Wednesday, November 20. Live streaming of the match will be available in India.

Under head coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina will look to bounce back after suffering a 1-2 defeat against Paraguay at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in their previous game last week.

While Lautaro Martínez gave Argentina an early lead in the 11th minute, Antonio Sanabria equalised for Paraguay eight minutes later. Paraguay rode on Omar Alderete’s match-winning goal in the second half to bag three crucial points from the game.

Despite the defeat, world champions Argentina are placed on top of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 CONMEBOL standings with 22 points from 11 matches, three points clear of Uruguay and Colombia.

On the other hand, the Peru national football team has struggled in the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Led by manager Jorge Fossati, Peru played out a goalless draw against Chile in their previous qualifying fixture at home.

Having registered just a solitary victory in 11 games, Peru are currently languishing ninth in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 CONMEBOL standings with seven points.

Interestingly, Peru did not qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and their last appearance in the marquee football competition was in 2018 when they were knocked out in the group stage.

Meanwhile, Argentina will miss the services of defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez due to injuries in the upcoming clash.

Marseille centre-back Leonardo Balerdi is expected to slot in at the heart of the defence alongside Nicolas Otamendi.

The likes of captain Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez are expected to feature against Peru.

For Peru, there are no major injury concerns and manager Jorge Fossati could retain his playing XI from last game.

Argentina vs Peru football head-to-head

The Argentina vs Peru football head-to-head favours La Albiceleste. Argentina have won 37 of the 58 matches that they have played against each other. Peru have registered just seven victories while as many as 14 matches have ended in draws.

The last time these two sides met, Argentina beat Peru 2-0 in a Copa America 2024 Group A match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida in June 2024.

Star forward Lautaro Martínez netted a brace to guide Argentina to a win.

Where to watch Argentina vs Peru FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers live in India

Live streaming of the Argentina vs Peru FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers will be available on the FanCode app and website in India.

There will be no live telecast of Argentina vs Peru FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on any TV channel in India.

Photo credit: Imago

Defending champions Inter Milan host fifth-placed Atalanta in a mouth-watering Serie A clash at San Siro on Saturday, September 25. The game will kick off at 9:30 PM IST.

Under the tutelage of Simone Inzaghi, Inter head into the contest eyeing top spot in Serie A and will look to leapfrog league leaders Napoli, who are two points clear and are scheduled to play Cagliari in the early hours of Monday. 

Inter have been in great form in Serie A 2021-22, winning four of their five matches while one game ended in a draw. 

On the other hand, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta have registered three wins, one loss and a draw in the five matches that they have played this season.

INT vs ATN Dream11 Prediction

Inter Milan have a superior head-to-head record against Atalanta across all competitions, winning 72 of the 133 matches played between these two sides. On the other hand, Atalanta have managed just 27 victories. Meanwhile, 34 matches have ended in a stalemate. Inter pipped Atalanta 1-0 courtesy of a goal from defender Milan Skriniar in March this year. Going by recent form, Inter will start as favourites to win the fixture.

INT vs ATN Dream11 team tips for Serie A 2021-22

Top tip: Best forward

Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez has been a prolific goal-scorer for Inter Milan since joining the club in the 2018-19 season. The 24-year-old has bagged 52 goals in 137 appearances for Nerazzurri. Martinez also already scored three goals in four league matches this season and is likely to continue his impressive form against a formidable Atalanta outfit.

Top tip: Best midfielder

Remo Freuler opened the scoring for Atalanta in their 2-2 draw against Villareal in the Champions League. It was his first goal in Europe’s elite competition since February 2020. The Switzerland national team midfielder has been one of the standout performers for Atalanta and has played 221 matches, scoring 20 goals. Freuler is well-placed to put on a strong display against the defending Serie A champions in midfield.

Top tip: Best defender and goalkeeper

After impressing in the recent UEFA European Championship, Dutchman Denzel Dumfries had an outstanding game against Bologna last weekend where he was involved in two of Inter’s six goals, assisting once. Dumfries is expected to make his second start in the league and replace Matteo Darmian on the right-wing.

Among goalkeepers, Atalanta custodian Juan Musso will be the preferred choice over Samir Handanović of Inter Milan. Having moved from Udinese this summer, Musso has established himself as a first-choice starter for Atalanta. The 27-year-old also made decisive saves to help his side clinch a point against Villareal in the Champions League. 

INT vs ATN probable playing XI

INT probable XI (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Andrea Ranocchia; Marcelo Brozović, Matias Vecino, Hakan Calhanoglu, Matteo Darmian, Ivan Perisic; Lautaro Martinez, Edin Dzeko

ATN probable XI (3-4-2-1): Juan Musso; Rafael Toloi, Merih Demiral, Berat Djimsiti; Davide Zappacosta, Mario Pasalic, Teun Koopmeiners, Robin Gosens; Matteo Pessina; Josip Ilicic, Duvan Zapata

Featured photo: Miguel Medina / AFP

Lionel Messi won his first piece of international silverware as Argentina claimed the Copa America 2021 title with a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Brazil.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner, who scored four goals in the competition, won the Golden Boot award by registering more assists than Colombia's Luis Diaz, who also scored four goals. Messi's former Barcelona teammate, Neymar, is one of 10 players to have netted two goals in the competition so far.

Copa America 2021 top-scorers

Player	Nationality	Goals
Lionel Messi	Argentina	4
Luis Diaz	Colombia	4
Gianluca Lapadula	Peru	3
Lautaro Martinez	Argentina	3
Neymar	Brazil	2

Most goals in one Copa America edition

Despite scoring four times in the 2021 edition, Messi is still a long way behind when it comes to equalling the tally for most goals scored in one Copa America edition. The likes of Javier Ambrois of Uruguay, Humberto Maschio of Argentina and Jair da Costa of Brazil hold the joint record for most goals scored in a single Copa America edition having netted nine times each. Ambrois and Maschio did it in 1957 while Jair achieved the feat in 1949.

Most goals in Copa America history

As far as the all-time history of the competition goes, it is Argentina midfielder Norberto Mendez who has scored the most number of goals in the Copa America. A winner of three Copa America championships (1945, 1946 and 1947), Mendez scored 17 goals during his 11-year career with the Argentine national team.

Lining up alongside Norberto Mendez is Brazil’s former attacking midfielder Zizinho, who has scored 17 goals in the competition too. Messi, meanwhile, has now scored 13 goals in the history of the competition, which is the joint seventh-best.

Player	Nationality	Goals
Norberto Mendez	Argentina	17
Zizinho	Brazil	17
Lolo Fernandez	Peru	15
Severino Varela	Uruguay	15
Paolo Guerrero	Peru	14

Featured photo: AFP / Douglas Magno

Carlo Ancelotti's Everton have acquired James Rodriguez from Madrid, while Sheffield United made a third signing in a single day on Monday, signing Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu on a season-long loan. This season's transfer market has been quite lively and the trend is set to continue as we approach the 2020/21 season.

That said, here are the top transfer stories of the day:

Aston Villa launch £16m bid for Joshua King

Bournemouth have already lost striker Callum Wilson and winger Ryan Fraser to Newcastle United, and a recent report from the Daily Telegraph has confirmed that Joshua King is likely to follow suit, with Aston Villa launching a £16m bid for the forward. Villa had previously inquired for Wilson and reportedly offered £21m for the 28-year-old. But with the striker keen on working under Steve Bruce, the Villans pulled back from the deal, and are now targeting Joshua King, who scored six goals in the Premier League last season.

King has less than 12 months remaining in his current Bournemouth deal, and he could easily be lured with a hope of playing in the Premier League. For Villa, Brentford forward Ollie Watkins still remains a priority, while an interest in Celtic's Odsonne Edouard has also been expressed. Manager Dean Smith is keen on adding more firepower in attack after surviving relegation in the 2019/20 season.

Meanwhile, they have already signed full-back Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest for £16m.

Chelsea in talks with Edouard Mendy

Having already added a host of big names in the ongoing transfer market, Frank Lampard's Chelsea are now pushing to complete the signing of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Chelsea had previously made an £18m offer for the 28-year-old, but saw their bid getting rejected. As things stand, reports have it that the Blues are now set to launch a new offer - £25m, including add-ons - to complete the deal as soon as possible.

Chelsea are in advanced talks and really ‘confident�?to sign Edouard Mendy as new goalkeeper from Rennes [as per @JacobSteinberg]. The agreement is going to be completed on next days. Declan Rice still in the list as next target too. #CFC #Chelsea #transfers

�?Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 7, 2020

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Blues are in 'advanced talks and are really confident to sign' the stopper. He further states that the 'agreement is going to be completed on next days'.

In other news, Emerson Palmieri's move to Inter has hit a rock after the Blues' asking price of £26m. It is understood that the Serie A side will wait until the deadline day to force Chelsea to bring down the asking price. Meanwhile, their striker Michy Batshuayi has attracted interest from the newly-promoted West Brom, while Tiemoue Bakayoko's loan move to AC Milan is still in process.

Lautaro "out of the market"

Barcelona's interest in Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez has been well documented, and in recent developments, the Blaugrana have yet again contacted his representatives, but Inter director Piero Ausilio insists that his player is "out of the market". Fabrizio Romano further confirms that there's no chance of the deal taking place in the near future.

Lautaro Martinez agents are coming to Italy. Barcelona contacted again Inter to re-start official talks for Lautaro, but he's now considered "out of the market" as Inter director Ausilio said. No chance at the moment. Barça are now in contact with Depay agents. @SkySport #FCB

�?Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 7, 2020

Thiago will NOT be present @ Bayern training center for medical tests. Key days are coming.
Liverpool are still pushing to get him but Bayern want �?0m... and Koeman insists to have Wijnaldum as new Barça signing more than Thiago (appreciated by part of the board). #LFC #FCB http://t.co/9atHfHYPVa

�?Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 8, 2020

Having said that, Barcelona have now contacted Memphis Depay's agent as manager Ronald Koeman looks keen on working with his countryman on a club level. Meanwhile, the Barca board are also working towards the possibility of resigning Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich, but Koeman insists on having Gini Wijnaldum instead. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lars Baron

Timo Werner joining Frank Lampard in his Chelsea project was a blow to Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions of defending his Premier League title in the 2020/21 season. Liverpool, in fact, were heavy favourites to land the former Leipzig striker, but failing to match the asking price gave Chelsea a chance to swoop in between and lure in the striker to London.

The Reds, as of now, have made a solitary signing, roping in left-back Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiacos for a fee reported to be around £11.75 million. The club’s hierarchy has always been cautious in term of spending the capital in the market, but losing Werner to their Premier League rivals is expected to force them to look somewhere else in order to add depth in their already attractive attacking line-up.

That said, here are five players who fit the billing for Jurgen Klopp as he looks to get over the ghost of the past. 

Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez made significant headway in the 2019/20 season, scoring 21 goals and four assists while forming a formidable partnership with Romelu Lukaku up front. Now, given the state of the market and how the global pandemic has affected its financial aspect, it won’t be easy for Liverpool to lure in the Argentine to England, but a prospect of working under Jurgen Klopp, who has led Liverpool to UEFA Champions League and Premier League glory in two seasons, might turn out to be a difficult proposition to reject.

• Five emerging players from the 2019/20 Champions League season

Martinez has the pace to burn, he likes to link up with his teammates, and most importantly, he works tirelessly in winning the ball high up the field, making him a perfect match for Jurgen Klopp’s blueprint.

As far as Inter are concerned, they are looking to hold on to their 23-year-old attacker, but reports doing the rounds say the Italians will consider parting ways if a respectable offer is put on the table.

Donyell Malen

A former Arsenal prodigy, Donyell Malen has been tipped for greatness by many. Blessed with a natural ability of finishing the ball, the 21-year-old PSV forward was an absolute revelation in the 2019/20 Eredivisie season, having scored 11 goals and two assists in 14 league games.

His nippy feet and lightning-quick dribbling skills have garnered comparisons with former Barcelona and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. Malen’s game is pretty direct, he loves to take on defenders, while his contribution off the ball is applauding too. In a way, he is quite similar to the likes of Mohamed Salah and even Sadio Mane, which means the opponents usually have no idea what the youngster might do in his second move. 

His defensive contribution, on the other hand, remains a thing to worry, but in Malen, Liverpool will have a solid player who can both score and create for teammates. With age at his side, there’s a lot of time for Klopp to do the polishing anyway. 

Diogo Jota

Wolverhampton forward Diogo Jota has time and again been overlooked due to the goalscoring brilliance of his attacking better half Raul Jimenez but the fact remains that he has been equally essential to Nuno Espirito Santo’s work at the club.

• The numbers game: The search for Europe’s deadliest strikers

Jota notched 16 goals in all competitions in the 2019/20 season but the gravity of his presence goes way beyond that. Like Klopp, Nuno Espirito Santo wants his attackers to barge in and press high up the field in order to retrieve the lost ball, and thus, getting acclimatised to Klopp’s philosophy will take no time for Jota at Liverpool. Add to it the versatility he brings is an added bonus, being capable of working anywhere across the forward line.

There sure remains a question over his consistency as was viable during the post-pandemic tenure, but a player of Jota’s character and ability is synonymous with diligence. And take note that the fight for a place in the first team is only going to lift him up.

Marcus Thuram

The son of FIFA World Cup winner Lillian Thuram, 23-year-old striker Marcus Thuram is scripting his own story in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach, having scored 14 goals in all competitions while also notching eight assists on the way. A versatile striker, who was utilised across every possible attacking position, Thuram showed what he can deliver with his rugged approach.

Being bulkier means he is well and truly capable of brushing off one-on-one duels. And like many other players of his generation, he is quick and direct in his approach, while also being capable of distorting the opposition backline with clever off-the-ball movement and utilising the pockets of space in the box proficiently.

Meanwhile, his love for dribbling usually stretches the game out wide, which forces the opposition to leave gaps in the middle. It is safe to say the youngster is worth taking a gamble on.

Luis Suarez

“Messi’s future will have an influence on Suarez’s because they are best friends, they get along on and off the pitch,�?Luis Suarez’s lawyer, Alejandro Balbi was recently quoted as saying.

• Potential destinations for Lionel Messi should he leave Barcelona

Barcelona are set for a massive overhaul, to say the least, and in the midst of Messi’s desire of leaving his boyhood club, the future of striker Luis Suarez has also been thrown in the air. The Catalan radio station Rac1 has quoted that the striker has already been told by the new Barca coach, Ronald Koeman, that he is not in his plans for next season.

That leaves Suarez's chances bleak in the transfer market. His former club Ajax were recently credited with an interest but sporting director Marc Overmars brushed off the rumours, saying that the chances of him joining the club are "quite small". Then there’s an interest from the Major Soccer League as well. Offers are aplenty, and so, Liverpool can benefit from the situation by offering him a way out.

So, why not?

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rafael Marchante, 

With the coronavirus bringing football across the world to a screeching halt, all clubs are facing a financial crunch with all revenue streams being affected. Such a situation would open the transfer market to new possibilities in the summer, increasing the likelihood of player swaps, loan deals while free agents are also likely to be in heavy demand.

One such swap deal doing the rounds in the rumour mill of late is that of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann. 

Having struggled with a lack of depth in the centre-forward department, Barcelona are intent on signing a new striker this summer. And Lautaro Martinez has emerged as their top target. Inter Milan, meanwhile, are adamant that Barcelona pay the Argentine’s release clause of �?11 million. But a lack of funds is proving to be a stumbling block in the deal. 

Read | Barcelona in chaos: What is happening at Camp Nou?

Given the situation, a swap deal between Martinez and Griezmann could prove to be a win-win situation for everyone. 

Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann joined Barcelona last summer in a mega-money deal from Atletico Madrid. But the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has struggled to make the desired impact at Camp Nou. There is a sense that the Frenchman hasn’t been able to get in sync with his teammates, which has been apparent on the field on numerous occasions.

Till date, Griezmann has managed just eight goals in 26 La Liga appearances, while chipping in with four assists. He has six more strikes from the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Champions League combined, taking his tally to 14 in 37 matches.

Lautaro Martinez

Martinez joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2018 from Argentine outfit Racing. He had a decent debut season in Italy, bagging nine goals in 35 matches. But the 22-year-old has stepped it up a notch this season.

In contrast to Griezmann’s form, Martinez has been a key element of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan side this season. The 22-year-old Argentine has netted eleven goals in 22 Serie A matches, forming a deadly partnership with summer signing Romelu Lukaku. In addition, he has bagged five more goals in six Champions League matches as well.

Read | Why it is time for Barcelona to cut their losses on Ousmane Dembele

Why Barcelona would benefit from the swap

Luis Suarez is entering the final years of his career. The Uruguayan has shown signs of age catching up over the past couple of seasons and has had to battle serious injuries as well. So, Barcelona are in need of a centre-forward to replace the seasoned campaigner and take over the mantle of being the spearhead of the attack alongside Lionel Messi.

To that end, Martinez makes total sense for the Catalans. At 22, he is still young and would be a long-term solution for the Catalans. Martinez, in many ways, plays similarly to how Luis Suarez operates. A deadly finisher, the former Racing star has speed, is sharp and intelligent in his movement and is capable of executing a neat link-up play in the final third.

Moreover, having played with Messi at the international level, the Argentine already has some sort of understanding with the Barcelona captain, something that has clearly lacked in Griezmann’s partnership with him. 

Read | Antoine Griezmann: A signing that Messi still can’t fathom

In the process, they would be offloading a player who has failed to fit into the side and won’t have to spend a large sum of money on recruiting a striker.

What Inter Milan would gain from the transfer

A lot of Griezmann’s issues at Barcelona have stemmed from the fact that he has largely been used on the left flank. While he used to play in such a role in the past at Real Sociedad, the 29-year-old has played some of his best football playing in a central role in recent years. 

At Barcelona, Griezmann has averaged a goal every 226 minutes when playing on the left flank across all competitions (eight in 23 games). In comparison, the Frenchman has scored a goal every 177 minutes playing through the middle (six in 13 matches), showing the stark difference in his effectiveness when playing centrally.

At Inter, the 29-year-old will be deployed through the middle, playing off of Romelu Lukaku. And Griezmann has already displayed that he thrives while playing with a strong, physical striker upfront �?with Diego Costa at Atletico Madrid and with Olivier Giroud for the France national team.

Read | Should Inter Milan give Mauro Icardi another shot next season?

Inter Milan, then, will be adding a world-class goalscorer and a World Cup winner to their ranks, who is in his prime years and would fit seamlessly into the scheme of things under Antonio Conte. This should enable them to take a step further in their attempt to knock Juventus off their perch in Italy.

Potential Problems

Griezmann’s wages could pose a problem to Inter Milan, but given that he will be getting a chance to start afresh, the two parties can work out an arrangement.

Another potential stumbling block could be that Inter will be trading a player seven years younger to the one they will be getting in the deal. Once again, that can be worked out by Barcelona converting the transfer from just a direct swap to a player-plus-cash deal.

Verdict

There are likely to be an issue or two when it comes to working out the logistics of the deal, but a swap of Lautaro Martinez and Antoine Griezmann between Inter Milan and Barcelona will benefit all parties involved.

Read | Ultimate XI of players coached by Antonio Conte

Griezmann would be able to put his woes at Camp Nou behind him and start anew, playing in a position and a system he thrives in. Martinez, on the other hand, will get to move to his dream club and play alongside his idol, Lionel Messi. 

Barcelona would be getting their hands on an ideal long-term replacement for Luis Suarez, while Inter Milan will get a world-class player in his peak years who will help them close the gap to Juventus. A win-win scenario for everyone.

When Sergio Aguero signed for Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2011, not many would have imagined that the Argentine would go onto grow into one of the finest strikers to have played in the Premier League.

Having scored the most important goal in the history of the club in his debut season at City, delivering them their first-ever Premier League title, Aguero grew from strength to strength ever since. The 31-year-old now stands as the all-time leading goalscorer for Manchester City, with 254 strikes in 368 matches.

Aguero’s 180 goals in the Premier League puts him fourth on the list of all-time leading goalscorers in the competition, while his 12 hat-tricks are unmatched in the league. Such a pivotal member of the team, the Argentine has won four Premier League titles at Manchester City, along with five League Cups and an FA Cup.

Aguero has been in fine form this season too, but the centre-forward is set to turn 32 years old in a couple of months. And with just one year left on his contract at Manchester City, there is a sense of uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, with a return to boyhood club, Independiente mooted in the press. 

Read | Manchester City’s top five signings from the last decade

Manchester City needs to have a succession plan in place for if and when Aguero decides to call time on his stint at the Etihad. And here we look at five strikers who would be ideal to replace the Citizens�?all-time leading goalscorer when he moves on;

Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) 

One Argentine striker for another, Lautaro Martinez’s stocks have been on the rise since the last couple of years. Having made the switch to Inter Milan in 2018, the 22-year-old has grown leaps and bounds since and is currently one of the most sought-after centre-forwards across Europe, with the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea eyeing his signature.

The 22-year-old has had a fine 2019/20 campaign with Inter, having bagged 16 goals and set up four more in 31 matches across all competitions, leading the club’s title charge early in the campaign. A complete all-round centre-forward, Martinez would be a great fit in Guardiola’s team at the Etihad, and at 22, he could be the Citizens�?star striker for years to come. 

Read | Five replacements for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal

Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) 

The breakout star of the season, Erling Haaland’s rise to the top over the past year has been rapid and eventful to say the least. During the first half of the 2019/20 campaign, with RB Salzburg, Haaland plundered 28 goals in 22 matches across all competitions, that included a hat-trick on his UEFA Champions League debut.

This kind of form saw the Norwegian attract a lot of interest in January, but he ended up snubbing Manchester United to sign for Borussia Dortmund, where has continued to thrive. In 11 matches for the Germans, the 19-year-old has already netted 12 times and assisted two more. Electric pace, sharp movement, class finishing, Haaland has displayed all qualities of a top striker and is just 19 years old.

Read | Five centre-backs Manchester City should target in summer

Donyell Malen (PSV)

May not be the biggest name on the list, but Donyell Malen is carving out a reputation for himself quite rapidly at PSV Eindhoven. Having spent time at the academies of Ajax and Arsenal, the 21-year-old joined PSV in 2017 and has swiftly risen through the ranks to become a key first-team member for the Eredivisie outfit.

Malen is enjoying his best season in 2019/20, having already amassed a tally of 17 goals and nine assists in 25 matches, although injuries have curtailed his development. The 21-year-old has broken into the Netherlands national team as well. Able to play through the middle and on the flanks, his versatility would be an asset for Guardiola's side. Fast, instinctive and a deadly finisher with both his feet, the Dutchman could be the heir-apparent to Aguero at the Etihad.

Kylian Mbappe (PSG) 

One of the best young forwards in the game currently, Kylian Mbappe needs no introduction. Having burst onto the scenes at AS Monaco in 2016, the Frenchman led them to the Ligue 1 title in 2016/17, before leaving for PSG where he has continued to torment defenders and accumulate domestic trophies in large numbers.

Read | Five strikers Real Madrid should target to replace Karim Benzema

With 90 goals and 49 assists in just 120 appearances for PSG, his capabilities on the pitch are never in doubt. At just 21, Mbappe has the world at his feet, having already won the World Cup with France. A chance to work with one of the best coaches in Guardiola would appeal to the Frenchman, although Manchester City might find it hard to beat Real Madrid, who have been chasing his signing for years now.

Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

Perhaps Manchester City don’t have to look outside for the man to replace Aguero at all. Gabriel Jesus has been with the team since January 2017 and has shown glimpses of brilliance, but the consistency has been lacking from the Brazilian international’s game. However, that seems to have changed in the ongoing campaign.

The 23-year-old has bagged 18 goals and assisted nine more in 39 games, displaying that he is tailor-made for Guardiola’s team. While possessing all the attributes required of an elite striker, Jesus also backs it up with exceptional work-rate, acting as City’s first line of press. Having spent three years with the club, he is already well-versed with the rigours of the Premier League and the demands of Guardiola and would save a lot of money for City.

Luis Suarez has been a fantastic servant for Barcelona. Arriving in 2014 from Liverpool, the Uruguayan international made instant impact as he went on to forge one of the deadliest attacking partnerships in the game, alongside fellow South American superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar, leading Barcelona to immense success.

Till date, the 33-year-old has made 270 appearances for Barcelona, bagging 191 goals and assisting 108, winning four La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey trophies and a UEFA Champions League trophy. However, over the past couple of seasons, Suarez has shown signs of slowing down, with his age catching up with him. 

Suarez did come up with an impressive return of 14 goals and 11 assists from 23 matches in all competitions before he was ruled out for the season with an injury. But given his age and injury record of late, it is about time that Barcelona look for a long-term replacement for the Uruguayan international.

Read | Five centre-backs Manchester City should target in summer

And here we take a look at five strikers who could be the ideal replacement for Suarez at Barcelona;

Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) 

Let’s start with the most obvious one first. Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez has been heavily linked with a summer move to Barcelona for quite some time now. And, to a large extent, a move for the Argentine international makes sense for the La Liga champions. 

Martinez has enjoyed a fine 2019-20 season so far, playing a key role in Inter Milan’s push for the Serie A title. The 22-year-old has netted 16 goals in 31 matches across all competitions for the Nerazzurri this term while setting up four more goals. 

Speed, power, composure in front of goal, Martinez has it all in his armoury. Moreover, having already played with Barcelona captain Lionel Messi for the Argentine national team, the 22-year-old has struck up some sort of partnership with the little magician, making him the ideal target for Barcelona.

Maxi Gomez (Valencia) 

Perhaps replace an Uruguayan with another Uruguayan? Suarez’s compatriot, Maxi Gomez, arrived on the Spanish shores in 2017, signing for Celta Vigo. The 23-year-old made waves in his debut campaign, scoring 18 goals in La Liga, but the past couple of seasons have seen his returns diminish due to injury issues.

Read | Five players who could move to the Premier League this summer

Having moved to Valencia in the summer of 2019, Gomez made a great start to life at the Mestalla but has endured a drought as of late. So far, the 17-time capped Uruguayan international has scored nine goals and set up four more in 32 matches in all competitions. That includes a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win against Barcelona in January this year.

Barcelona had expressed an interest in signing Gomez last summer, but had been unable to close the deal. But given the potential that the Uruguayan has shown coupled with his experience in La Liga, he could prove to be a shrewd purchase for the Blaugrana.

Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) 

The German international has been tearing defences apart in the Bundesliga this season and has what it takes to be a worthy successor of Luis Suarez at Barcelona. A product of the Stuttgart youth academy, Werner signed for RB Leipzig in 2016 and has been critical to their rise to prominence in Germany in recent years.

Werner has amassed a tally of 88 goals in just 150 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, that includes 27 goals in 36 matches across all competitions this term, highlighting the potency he brings in front of the goal. Add to it, the German international can also be a creator for his teammates as well, much like Suarez, having contributed with 12 assists this season.

At 24, Werner has his best years ahead of him. In his burgeoning career so far, he has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with and should only keep getting better from hereon, making him an enticing prospect for Barcelona to consider signing.

Read | Premier League team of the season �?Excluding top six clubs

Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) 

One of the hottest prospects across Europe, Erling Haaland has been scoring goals for fun this season. The 19-year-old Norwegian joined Austrian outfit RB Salzburg in January last year and made such a huge impact that he was snapped up by Borussia Dortmund in the winter window earlier this year.

So far in the ongoing campaign, Haaland has plundered 40 goals in 33 games across all competitions for Salzburg and Dortmund combined. That also includes ten goals in the UEFA Champions League in just eight matches. 

Despite being 19 years of age, Haaland has an imposing physique, while he is also lightning fast on the field and is a top-notch finisher. With a well-rounded game and still plenty of room for development, Haaland can go on to be a great addition to Barcelona for years to come.

Victor Osimhen (Lille)

The Nigerian might not be a well-known quantity outside Ligue 1, but at the age of 21, Victor Osimhen has taken the French top-flight by storm and has already put himself on the radars of a number of big clubs.

Signed by Lille in the last summer, Osimhen has taken to life in the Ligue 1 like a duck to water. In his debut campaign with the French club, the Nigerian forward has already notched up 18 goals and set up six more in 38 matches in all competitions. The 21-year-old has also broken into the Nigerian national team and scored four goals in eight international appearances.

Finishing is one of the strongest attributes in Osimhen’s game and while there is still work to be done for him to become a complete forward, the 21-year-old has shown plenty of potential for Barcelona to take a punt on him this summer.

The UEFA Champions League rolls into his final matchday action, and it brings along some exhilarating fixtures to look forward to. Liverpool take on Red Bull Salzburg in a must win game of Group E, while Borussia Dortmund take on Slavia Praha with a hope of getting a positive outcoming from Barcelona’s trip to San Siro to face Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan.

All that followed by the domestic league action over the weekend will pack your week with absolute thrill. And oh, not to forget the matchday 8 of the Indian Super League. Country’s premier football competition will have Odisha FC locking horns with Hyderabad FC, while NorthEast United will play their second home game on the bounce; this time against a struggling Chennaiyin FC.

The most enthralling of all, however, would be ATK’s visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao to face FC Goa on Saturday.

FC Goa vs ATK

The heavyweights of the Indian Super League will lock horns in what is supposed to be a battle for the honour. FC Goa, with 12 points sit third on the table, while ATK acquire the top spot after four wins and one defeat in seven league outings.

ATK have always found it difficult to breach Goa’s defences at their turf given that their victory at the venue came in 2016 when an injury time goal from Stephen Pearson gave his team a crucial 2-1 win. Since then, it has always been a one-way traffic. Back in February 2018, Goa put five past ATK, and a year later added three more their tally. As things stand, FC Goa have scored nine goals in three games at home against ATK.

As far their head-to-head count is concerned, the teams have played as many as seven draws in 12 meetings. ATK have come out on top on three occasions, while Goa have tasted victory on two.

Watch out four:

Roy Krishna: The ISL ‘Hero of the Month�?for November, Roy Krishna has taken the league by storm, scoring six goals and one assist in seven appearances. The Fijian international rescued his team against Mumbai City FC by scoring an injury-time equalizer last month and carried his form against NorthEast United by bagging a brace in a 3-0 win away from home. Thus, if there’s anyone who is expected to make an impact, it has to be the 32-year-old.

Inter Milan vs Barcelona

With four points separating Inter from Barcelona, clinching the top spot of Group F of the UEFA Champions League is simply out of reach. However, with Borussia Dortmund breathing right down the neck with equal points �?behind only on goal difference �?Inter cannot afford to slip from this point on.

Inter’s record in the Champions League though isn’t something that they would want to count on, given that they have won just twice in their last nine matches; both coming in this year’s edition (D3 L4). The positive, on the other hand, remains that they are unbeaten in six home games in the competition. Furthermore, they are also unbeaten in their last nine home games against a La Liga opponent (W3 D6), with their last defeat coming against Alaves in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup.

Barcelona, on the other hand, have scored 2.5 goals in six of their last eight games, and have lost just once in eight away matches. Regardless of the record though, they have failed to find the net on a regular basis, having scored just three goals in their last five away matches.

Watch out for:

Lautaro Martinez: Five goals in last four games pretty much sums what Lautaro Martinez has been all about under Conte this season. The ever-blazing Argentine has bagged five goals in as many Champions League appearances and has been leading his team’s attack alongside Romelu Lukaku with sheer authority. It was, in fact, Martinez who got into the scoresheet when Barcelona met Inter earlier in the campaign. Thus, it is fair to say he will have a say when Barcelona visit his territory on Tuesday (Wednesday 1:30 am, IST).

Wondering what to do next? Head to Sportsbet.io to select your picks.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @IndSuperLeague

The group stages of the UEFA Champions League will finally see its culmination in this midweek, giving us the final 16 teams who will progress to the knockout stage of the competition. On the Indian shores, the Indian Super League (ISL) will enter its matchday eight after a plethora of high-octane action over the past few gameweeks.

Among biggest fixtures this week, we’ll see Inter Milan host the Catalan giants, Barcelona while Jose Mourinho�?Tottenham will travel to Munich where the Bavarians, Bayern Munich will be hoping for a similar result like last time, which although seems unlikely under the tutelage of the Portuguese manager.

In a battle of the heavyweights in ISL over the upcoming weekend, FC Goa will go against a ravishing ATK where the Fijian international, Roy Krishna seems to be proving invaluable for the team from Bengal. The fantasy managers of Nostragamus have a long and tedious week ahead. Sit back while we handpick the players that will make your journey rewarding this week.

DELE ALLI

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Match: Bayern Munich vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s number 20 has been enjoying life under the watchful eyes of Mourinho. The fans have been witnessing a ‘Renaissance�?as far as Dele Alli is concerned, with the 23-year-old scoring four goals in five games with three invaluable assists.

Absolutely filthy @dele_official #COYS pic.twitter.com/WYNxxTjD9O

�?Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) December 4, 2019

The attacking midfielder’s best performance came against Bournemouth at home when he scored two goals, posted a 100% take-on success rate and made eight successful recoveries during the match. Mourinho is smiling from the dugout and so are we because the new manager might have just unleashed a sleeping giant and it may well be his time to shine in the Champions League against Bayern.

Read | Twitter in disbelief as Manchester United beat Mourinho’s Tottenham

SERGIO CASTEL

Club: Jamshedpur FC 

Match: Kerala Blasters vs Jamshedpur FC

The Spaniard’s debut season with Jamshedpur FC in ISL 2019-20 campaign has been a delight to watch. Having scored five goals in his six appearances so far, Sergio Castel’s tenure on loan from Atletico Madrid is proving fruitful. An ambitious number nine, Castel’s consistency is what is keeping him going toe to toe with veterans like Sunil Chhetri and Roy Krishna.

Read | Jamshedpur FC’s Sergio Castel roaring his way to the top in the ISL

Castel has been an epitome of high work rate as well, making a total of nine crucial tackles with a decent passing accuracy of 48.38%. The Spanish forward is surely one who will be making headway for the Golden Boot this season.

LAUTARO MARTINEZ 

Club: Inter Milan

Match: Inter Milan v Barcelona

One of European football’s hottest emerging property now is the Argentinian forward, Lautaro Martinez. The forward has scored five goals in his last five Champions League outings and has paired up wonderfully with Romelu Lukaku upfront. The duo has now registered eight-plus goals after 15 Serie A matches as well and are running riot both in Italy and Europe.

Lautaro Martinez - simply unstoppable in recent months:

vs Sampdoria �?br /> vs Barcelona ⚽️
vs Juventus ⚽️
vs Sassuolo ⚽️⚽️
vs BVB ⚽️
vs Parma �?br /> vs Brescia ⚽️
vs Bologna �?br /> vs BVB ⚽️
vs Verona �?br /> vs Torino ⚽️
vs Slavia ⚽️⚽️
vs SPAL ⚽️⚽️

One of the best strikers in the world. pic.twitter.com/P9boEN6Z2K

�?FootballTalentScout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) December 1, 2019

The 22-year-old’s ascent has been duly noticed by Spanish giants Barcelona and an upcoming encounter against the Catalan giants might just be his biggest test till date and given his form, expect a goal or two from the Argentinian.

ROY KRISHNA

Club: ATK 

Match: FC Goa vs ATK 

ISL’s most prized possession this season has been ATK’s, Roy Krishna. The prolific striker is leading the charts with six goals in seven appearances in the 2019-2020 edition. Krishna was awarded the ISL ‘Hero of the month�?award for the month of November for scoring three goals in three games, making him the most successful striker in ISL this season so far.

Congratulations Roy Krishna for winning the Hero of the Month award, November 2019!#AamarBukeyATK pic.twitter.com/lwUXq1v5RE

�?ATK is in my DNA (@atk_dna) December 4, 2019

The Fijian international has also found solace in his attacking partnership with David Williams who seems to be relishing his playing time with the Fijian. With Goa up next, he will aim to extend his impeccable goal scoring form.

Read: The Roy Krishna story: From Fiji via New Zealand to India

AMINE CHERMITI

Club: Mumbai City FC

Match: Bengaluru FC vs Mumbai City FC 

The Tunisian striker, Amine Chermiti was up and running over the weekend against Kerala Blasters as he smashed an equalizer and rescued a point for his team. The experience seems to be playing off lately as the 31-year-old has made tremendous progress, having scored four goals in his seven appearances and has emerged as Mumbai City’s saving grace in the past few games.

Read | Amine Chermiti’s experience a key element in Mumbai City FC’s surge

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff