Argentina, the current world champions, will host Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night as part of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying. With Argentina sitting at the top of the qualification standings and Bolivia strengthening their bid for their first World Cup appearance in 30 years, this match is expected to provide some interesting moments.
Despite failing to win their last match, Argentina managed to pull ahead of both Colombia and Uruguay in the standings. Bolivia, on the other hand, was the standout performer of matchday nine, boosting their World Cup qualification hopes significantly.
Match Preview
Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela on Thursday night was not the ideal result for the Albiceleste, but it still allowed them to widen their lead at the top of the qualifying standings. Their nearest rivals, Colombia and Uruguay, both suffered shock defeats, giving Argentina some breathing room in their quest to secure early qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni’s team entered the match against Venezuela with confidence, but they were far from their best. Nicolas Otamendi gave Argentina an early lead, but Venezuela created more opportunities and eventually found an equalizer through Salomon Rondon. Despite being outshot 18 to 6, Argentina held on to earn a point.
Although Argentina has shown defensive resilience, conceding only eight goals in their last 20 qualifiers, their recent form has been inconsistent. With only two wins from their last five matches, they will be eager to improve their record against Bolivia.
Bolivia, traditionally one of the weaker South American teams, has found new life under coach Oscar Villegas. After struggling in the early stages of qualifying, Bolivia has won three of their last three matches, including a shock victory over Colombia despite playing with ten men for most of the game.
While Bolivia has historically struggled against Argentina on the road, they will be optimistic following their first away qualifier win in 31 years last month.
Team News
Argentina will be bolstered by the return of Lionel Messi, who made his first appearance for the national team since the Copa America final in their last match against Venezuela. Though Messi did not have a significant impact, his presence is always a game-changer. Messi will likely be joined by Thiago Almada, who has been in excellent form for Botafogo, and Lautaro Martinez, who could come off the bench if needed.
Defensively, Argentina will welcome back Cristian Romero, who was suspended for the match against Venezuela. However, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will miss the match as he serves the second of his two-game suspension.
Bolivia, meanwhile, will be without several key players. Hector Cuellar is suspended after receiving a red card in their match against Colombia, and both Ervin Vaca and Yomar Rocha have pulled out due to injuries. First-choice goalkeeper Carlos Lampe is also sidelined after getting injured in their win over Chile last month. Bolivia will rely heavily on their rising star Miguelito, who has scored in three consecutive games for the national team.
Argentina’s Possible Starting XI:
- GK: Rulli
- DEF: Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico
- MID: De Paul, Fernandez, Lo Celso
- FOR: La Martinez, Alvarez, Messi
Bolivia’s Possible Starting XI:
- GK: Viscarra
- DEF: Medina, Haquin, Suarez, Sagredo
- MID: Robson Matheus, Villamil, R Vaca
- FOR: Miguelito, Algaranaz, Chura
Key Players to Watch
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): Messi’s ability to change the course of a game with his creativity and vision will be key. Though he had a quiet outing against Venezuela, expect Messi to shine in front of the home crowd.
- Miguelito (Bolivia): Bolivia’s rising star has been their standout player in recent matches, scoring key goals for the team. With his confidence high, Miguelito will be Bolivia’s best chance of causing an upset.
- Cristian Romero (Argentina): Returning from suspension, Romero will add defensive stability to the team. His presence at the back will be crucial in preventing Bolivia from creating chances.
Bolivia’s Recent Rise Under Villegas
Oscar Villegas has breathed new life into a Bolivian team that struggled during the early rounds of qualifying. After securing just three points from their first six matches, Bolivia has since won three consecutive games, including an impressive away victory over Chile and home wins against Venezuela and Colombia. Villegas has instilled a belief in his players that they can compete against the strongest teams in South America, and Bolivia now sits in one of the automatic qualifying positions.
Switching their home venue from La Paz to El Alto, located even higher in altitude, has proven to be a masterstroke. Teams like Colombia have struggled to cope with the extreme conditions, giving Bolivia a significant home advantage.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Key Stats
- Argentina has won 10 of their 11 home qualifiers against Bolivia.
- Bolivia’s last win in Argentina dates back to their first-ever World Cup qualifying campaign.
- Bolivia has never won two away qualifiers in a row, but they will be hopeful after breaking their 31-year away win drought last month.
Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Bolivia
Bolivia enters this match with newfound confidence after their recent success under Villegas, but winning in Argentina is one of the toughest tasks in South American football. Argentina’s defense has been solid, and with Messi and Martinez leading the attack, the hosts are favorites to win.
While Bolivia will make life difficult for Argentina, especially given their recent upturn in form, the home side should come out on top. We predict a 2-0 win for Argentina, as Bolivia’s defense will be unable to contain Argentina’s attacking firepower for the full 90 minutes.
Conclusion
With Argentina looking to cement their place at the top of the standings and Bolivia seeking to maintain their newfound momentum, this World Cup qualifying clash promises to be a thrilling encounter. While Bolivia has proven to be a tricky opponent under Villegas, the quality and experience of the Argentina squad, led by Messi, will likely prove too much for La Verde.
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