Without a slightly injured Lionel Messi, Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini provided late goals for Argentina in a 2-0 win over Italy in a pre-World Cup friendly on Friday.
Messi was left on the bench due to a minor muscular problem, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Giovani Lo Celso getting the start instead at the center of Argentina’s attack.
“(Messi) will probably play against Spain,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said, looking ahead to Tuesday’s match in Madrid. “I didn’t want to risk him tonight.”
In the 75th, Banega scored from the edge of the area in between three defenders after Italy’s Jorginho gave up possession near midfield.
