Argentina welcomes Paraguay on Friday morning to maintain their good record in the World Cup qualifiers.
Match Timing: Nov 13, 5:30 AM
Team Preview
Argentina host Paraguay at Estadio Alberto Jose Armando on Friday in the third round of World Cup Qualifiers in South America. Brazil and Argentina are the only teams who had maintained their record in the qualifiers. The 2014 World Cup finalists have included some prolific players in the squad. Sergio Aguero is out from the squad due to injury, and Giovani Los Celso, Agustin Marchesin, Paulo Dybala, and Walter Kannemann are returning to the national side.
Scaloni’s men have struggled in the last qualifying cycle, but situations are stable for the hosts now. Mess and Co started off with a narrow 1-0 home win against Ecuador, courtesy of Leo Messi’s penalty. In the next outings, they overcame against Bolivia in LaPaz von the road, thanks to Joaquin Correa’s final minutes strike. The players like Lautaro Martinez, Leo Messi, and Angel Di Maria in the attack would be dangerous for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Paraguay also had a good start in qualifiers by picking four points from the first two encounters. They beat Venezuela 1-0 in an away game and held Peru to a 2-2 draw at home. Paraguay’s away record is not so good, and the task of Argentia would require more accuracy in the field. Eduardo Berizzo is expected to avoid any change in the side after getting 3 points against Venezuela. Both sides met in the group stages of the tournament, and the match finished 2-2.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Argentina
Lineup: Romero; Rojo, Otamendi, Garay, Zabaleta; Biglia, Mascherano, Pastore; Di Maria, Messi, Aguero
Paraguay
Lineup: Villar; Da Silva, B Valdez, Aguilar, Piris; Gonzalez, Benitez, Caceres, Aranda; Santa Cruz, N Valdez
Key Players
Argentina
Leo Messi
3 goals in Premier League 2020-21
Angel de Maria
2 goals and 2 assists in Premier League 2020-21
Paraguay
Angel Romero
2 goals in World Cup qualifying
Sebastian Ferreira
3 goals in Libertadores 2020
