Preview
The FIFA World Cup qualifiers are back, with the action set to resume in CONMEBOL this midweek. Argentina, one of the favorites to qualify, will be in for an intriguing showdown with Paraguay at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco, with these two South American needing these three points for different reasons.
La Albiceleste are the favorites for this fixture, and for obvious reasons. Not only are Lionel Scaloni's side the champions of South America, having ended their horrible 28-year trophyless run by lifting the Copa America crown, but the two-time World Cup champions have begun the qualifying campaign in excellent fashion. Messi and Co. are second in the table in the race to qualify for Qatar 2022 and are yet to lose a single game.
Due to the farce surrounding their clash with Brazil, Argentina have played eight games so far, one less than most of their rivals. From those eight fixtures, La Albiceleste have pulled off five wins and three draws, thus racking up 18 points from a possible 24. Uruguay, who currently occupy the third spot, are three points behind and are thus closing in, but Scaloni's men do have a game in-hand over La Celeste.
However, thanks to those three draws, Messi and Co. find themselves trailing first-placed Brazil by a whopping six points – the Selecao boast a perfect record so far. Despite beating Paraguay 1-0 in the recent Copa America tournament, the visitors have struggled against this opposition in recent years and will need to be at their best in order to come away with the ideal result.
Fortunately, one man is in great form for his country and that is none other than their talisman Leo. The 34-year-old not only captained his nation to the Copa America crown, but he also won the Player of the Tournament and the Top Scorer awards while racking up the most assists and being named in the Team of the Tournament. He heads into this game on the back of his record-breaking hat-trick against Bolivia, a performance which saw him overtake Pele as the all-time highest scoring South American in international football, and will thus be keen on tearing apart another team as an antidote to his early misfortunes at PSG.
Paraguay, meanwhile, are on the edge in the qualifiers. With 11 points from nine games, Eduardo Berizzo's side currently sit in sixth, which is outside the qualifying spots, but they are only two points behind fourth-placed Ecuador and an automatic Qatar 2022 berth.
The home side have lost only two games but they've also won only twice as well, drawing more than half their games (5). If Paraguay wish to qualify for their first World Cup since South Africa 2010, they will need to start winning games, and what a better place to start than at home against Argentina.
Team news
Paraguay: The home side will be without the services of David Martinez and Blas Riveros, both of whom are injured. Santiago Arzamendia could deputize for the earlier while Miguel Almiron will be eyeing a spot in the starting eleven.
Argentina: Emi Beundia, who has not enjoyed the greatest of starts in the Premier League, has been left out of the squad while Dybala and Aguero miss out due to injuries. Messi and Lautaro will thus continue leading the line while Lo Celso will be keen on making his way back into the fold.
Key stats
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Argentina have won only once in their last five encounters with Paraguay.
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Nine of the last 19 encounters between these two nations have ended in draws.
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Messi and Co. are on an eight-game winning streak and are on a 22-match unbeaten run.
Broadcast listings
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
