World Cup Qualifiers: Argentina vs Paraguay Preview and Prediction

Argentina take on Paraguay in the qualifiers for the World Cup at La Bombonera at 5:30 am IST tomorrow. Messi and Co. have started their qualifying campaign in fine style by beating Bolivia and Ecuador in the previous two matches and are currently 2nd in the table. The team are looking to avoid the issues of the 2018 World cup qualifiers when they needed a Messi hattrick in the final game to qualify. Meanwhile, Paraguay too are in good form having won their last fixture against Venezula and are currently 4th in the table.

Preview

The match will be closer than expected as Dybala and Aguero are out with injuries. Meanwhile, Paraguay will look to sit back and soak the pressure before hitting on the counter. Lautaro and Messi will be expected to break past this defense in a tense match. Argentina Coach, Scaloni has so far exceeded expectations and has made Argentina more difficult to beat. Moreover, he has also handed out opportunities to youngsters with the prime example being Emiliano Martinez taking the goalkeeper’s gloves.

The fixture will depend hugely on the fitness of Lautaro and Messi. Both the players are not at their optimal level with Messi recovering from a ankle injury and Lautaro nursing a hamstring injury. However, the coach seemed confident about Messi playing and said, “Leo trained with us normally. He has been experiencing discomfort in his ankle but it does not prevent him from playing, so for us he is fit and available.” Paraguay will a have huge chance of upsetting Argentina if Messi doesn’t play.

FS Video

Form guide

Argentina haven’t defeated Paraguay in the last three matches played which will be a huge confidence booster for Paraguay. However, Argentina have won more matches against Paraguay if all of their head to head encounters are compared. Moreover, Messi seems to enjoying himself more in a Argentina shirt nowadays in comparison to Barca and he will be looking to make the difference.

Argentina last five matches : W-W-D-W-W

Paraguay last five matches : W-D-D-W-D

#SelecciónMayor Segundo día de actividades en #Ezeiza.

Enfocados ? en lo que viene ??#VamosArgentina ?? pic.twitter.com/Tle7rklYpY
— ?? Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) November 10, 2020

Predicted Lineups:

Argentina Starting XI : Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Lucas Ocampos

Paraguay Starting XI : Anthony Silva; Alberto Espinola, Gustavo Gomez, Fabian Balbuena, Santiago Arzamendia; Gaston Gimenez, Rodrigo Rojas, Mattias Villasanti; Alejandro Romero, Dario Lezcano, Miguel Almiron