There were plenty of Chileans in action around the world during the week with a number scoring for their sides including a brace for Arturo Vidal in Italy and another two goals for Junior Fernándes in Croatia. The week also saw a number of Chileans play they part in their team’s qualification for action in Europe with Claudio Bravo and Marcelo Díaz joining the list of Chileans participating in this year’s Champions League.
In England, Gary Medel almost played a full ninety minutes in Cardiff City’s scoreless draw with Everton being substituted in the 89th minute. Surprisingly in his three matches for the Welsh-based club, Medel is yet to pick up a yellow card. In the Championship Jean Beausejour played a full ninety minutes in Wigan’s 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forrest, picking up a yellow card in the 87th minute.
In Spain, Alexis Sánchez didn’t make it to the bench in Barcelona’s 3-2 win over Valencia after picking up a Spanish Super Cup winner’s medal in midweek playing sixty-five minutes in the scoreless draw with Atletico Madrid. Claudio Bravo helped his Real Sociedad side qualify for the Champions League after they saw off French side Lyon midweek but was unable thwart Atletico Madrid as the team from San Sebastián went down 2-1.
Francisco Silva was substituted at half time as his Osasuna side suffered their third straight loss in La Liga as they lost 3-0 to the unbeaten Villareal. Meanwhile Bryan Rabello played sixty-five minutes in Sevilla’s 5-0 defeat of Ślask Wrocław midweek to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League and followed that up with fifty-six minutes in his side’s two-all draw with Malaga in which fellow Chilean Pedro Morales scored the opening goal in the 40th minute. Manuel Iturra was also in action on the weekend playing the full ninety minutes in Granada’s 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo.
In Italy, Arturo Vidal scored two goals and provided an assist in Juventus’ 4-1 win over Lazio whilst Mauricio Isla came on as a 79th minute substitute.
Mauricio Pinilla played seventy-one minutes in Cagliari’s 3-1 loss to AC Milan whilst David Pizarro and Matías Fernandez played in Fiorentina’s midweek loss to Grasshopper which saw them miss out on qualification for the Europa League. At the weekend both again featured in Fiorentina’s 5-2 win over Genoa with Fernandez replacing Pizarro in the 66th minute.
In Holland Felipe Gutierrez played ninety minutes in FC Twente’s one-all draw with Heerenveen whilst Stefano Magnasco also saw out a full match in Groningen’s one-all draw with Ajax.
In Switzerland, Marcelo Díaz didn’t play on the weekend in FC Basel’s 2-0 victory over Young Boys but did put on an assist for Fabian Frei’s opener in his side’s 2-0 victory over Longerets which saw them qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.
Junior Fernandes continued his good run of goal scoring for Dinamo Zagreb as scored his side’s third goal in their 3-1 defeat of Istra 1961. He also found the back of the net midweek in Dinamo’s 3-2 victory over Austria Vienna but it wasn’t enough for them to qualify for the Champions League as they went out 4-3 on aggregate.
In Turkey Sebastián Pinto was on target for Bursapor as they defeated Antalyaspor 2-1.
In Mexico Humberto Suazo couldn’t find a way past fellow Chilean Miguel Pinto in Monterrey’s scoreless draw with Atlas with Rodrigo Millar also playing a full match. Esteban Paredes warmed for the World Cup qualifiers with eighth minute penalty in Querétaro’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul.
Hector Mancilla was also on the scoresheet in Mexico as his twelfth minute goal helped Morelia defeat of Pachuca 4-1, a result which saw them move to the top of the Liga MX table.
In Brazil Eugenio Mena once agsin played a full ninety minutes for Santos as they defeated Fluminense 2-0 whilst in Serie B, Jorge Valdivia played seventy minutes in Palmeiras two-all draw with Ceará.
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