Neymar and co want revenge for the Copa America
The classic CONMEBOL qualifier goes into the next round on Tuesday and Wednesday. Even though the current standings take some of the explosiveness out of the event, with Brazil already safely qualified thanks to their win in their last outing against Colombia. With a six-point lead over the second-placed team, Brazil will also come through the next matchday as top of the table, regardless of the result, and because Argentina are also only a few points away from qualification, this duel is, as always, about more than just winning a match.
While the visitors from Brazil are already confirmed as the first qualifiers from the South American group five matchdays before the end of the qualification phase, the Albiceleste still need a few points to punch their ticket to Qatar.
Nevertheless, the hosts are favourites in the match between Argentina and Brazil, according to the bookmakers’ predictions. Not least because of the result from the final of the last Copa America, when Messi and co. got the upper hand and were crowned champions.
Argentina – Statistics & current form
The Albicelestes are now unbeaten in six matches. Five wins and a draw have been recorded over the last three World Cup qualifying phases. Second place behind their biggest rivals Brazil seems to be safe for the men around superstar Lionel Messi.
The latter made rather negative headlines in the run-up to the last match in Uruguay last Saturday. In the French capital, at his current club Paris Saint Germain, people are angry because the six-time world footballer left for the national team injured and also received playing time. The 15 minutes or so he played against Uruguay will hardly be enough for the upcoming clash against Brazil.
First encounter since Copa Final
Messi and co. will have fond memories of their last encounter with the Selecao. On the eleventh of July this year, Messi finally crowned his career with an Argentine success. The 43-year-old Lionel Scaloni’s charges won the Copa America at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro and made their mark in the history books. As the first leg of the World Cup qualifiers for Qatar 2022 in Brazil has been postponed, the two football powers will now meet again for the first time since the final.
As expected, the bookmakers are giving tight predictions on a winner in Argentina vs Brazil. Due to the home advantage, the odds have the Argentines as slight favourites going into the game.
Both best defensively
Whoever expects a goal spectacle in view of the illustrious names of both offensive lines should not be surprised if this does not happen. Both teams have very stable defences and consequently have the best goal conceded statistics. The odds also predict a low-scoring game in the Argentina vs. Brazil match. Nevertheless, the possibility of many goals must always be taken into account in view of the individual players who will be on the pitch.
With a win, Argentina could move a little closer to league leader Brazil, and qualification for Qatar would be as good as assured. Moreover, this classic is always about more than just three points. Prestige is probably the most important thing to defend in this duel.
Messi back in the starting eleven?
Despite the critical voices from Paris, Lionel Messi is expected to be back in the starting line-up for the clash against Brazil. Paulo Dybala would probably have to make way for him. If coach Scaloni chooses a more attacking option, it would probably be Lo Celso.
Predicted line-up of Argentina:
Martinez – Acuna, Otamendi, Romero, Molina – de Paul, Rodriguez, Lo Celso , di Maria , Messi, Martinez
Brazil – Statistics & current form
The league leaders travel to Argentina with a fair amount of anger and motivation in their bellies. Even if a win in the already secure World Cup qualifier would not make up for losing the Copa America final in July, coach Tite’s men are desperate to return from Argentina victorious.
Will Brazil remain unbeaten?
Brazil are currently playing their most convincing qualifying campaign ever. With 34 points after 12 games, Neymar and co. have almost always taken three points. Only in Colombia in October did they have to settle for a 0-0 draw.
27 goals scored and only four conceded underline the Brazilian national team’s dominance of the CONMEBOL group at both ends of the pitch. Once again, the Selecao will enter the tournament in Qatar as one of the top favourites. The Brazilians, who have been in top form for months, must also be reckoned with for the upcoming encounter away to Argentina.
Brazil can play more liberated than Argentina
The fact that Brazil have already qualified for the World Cup can be seen as an advantage. Apart from the explosive nature of the match, the Selecao can play more freely than their opponents. Nevertheless, the Tite protégés will naturally want to take revenge for their loss in the Copa America final. It can be ruled out that the Brazilians will rest on their qualification success in the duel with the Argentinians. Especially in the match against their biggest rivals, the Brazilians do not want to suffer their first defeat and will therefore throw everything in.
On the coaching bench, on the other hand, there will be an unequal duel. The 60-year-old Tite, who has been in the business for decades, will meet the 17-year-old Scaloni. Due to the importance of this duel and despite the successful qualification for Qatar, no major experiments are expected from the experienced Tite.
Predicted line-up of Brazil:
Alisson – Sandro, Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo – Casemiro, Fred, Paqueta – Neymar, Jesus, Raphinha
Argentina – Brazil Direct comparison / H2H Ranking
Yellow-green-blue and blue-white have faced each other 106 times. The Brazilians hold the narrowly better record with 44 wins compared to the Argentines’ 40. They drew 22 times. The top scorer in this duel to date is Pele with eight goals. The last six duels support this balanced statistic. Three times one team won and the other the other won.
Argentina – Brazil Tip
Even though both teams have been able to convince with their two defensive lines so far, we anticipate a game with many goals for the upcoming duel due to the table situation, which will not change for either team after the match.
On the Argentine side, Lionel Messi will in all likelihood return to the starting eleven and thus once again provide the highest danger for the opponents. The little dribbler will be complemented by his congenial Parisian teammate Di Maria and energy bundle and goal scorer Lautaro Martinez.
On the Brazilian side, names like Gabriel Jesus or the extremely strong Leeds player Raphinha speak for themselves. In Neymar, they have one of the best players in the world in their ranks, who can single-handedly decide every game.
Against all expectations, we expect a fast-paced and high-scoring match. With Argentina vs. Brazil, our tip is that both teams will score due to the standings and the individual qualities on both sides. We are betting 3 units on this.
