Paraguay vs Argentina
Copa America champions Argentina will arrive at the Estadio Denesores del Chaco in Paraguay on Thursday to take on their hosts in another huge World Cup 2022 qualifier.
Argentina are currently sitting in second place in the South American Table, on 18 points and with a five-point cushion to fifth place, while Paraguay is outside the qualification group in sixth. World Cup: Paraguay vs Argentina is a big game for both. Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina can take another step towards qualification while Eduardo Berizzo is struggling to keep his side in the competition. At sixth in the FIFA World Rankings Argentina are a full 29 places ahead of Paraguay in 35th and they are striding purposefully towards Qatar 2022 while Paraguay are in serious danger of crashing out of contention.
The Argentine bandwagon is rolling on and I can’t see it grinding to a halt in Paraguay.
Talking Points
Argentina has that winning feeling
Winning the 2021 Copa America lifted a huge weight from the shoulders of Argentine football and particularly their talisman Lionel Messi who, as arguably the best player on the planet over the past 15 years, had been deprived of international glory. Since beating Brazil in the Copa final, thanks to an Angel Di Maria strike, the Albiceleste has won its last two games, beating Venezuela away 1-3 and then sweeping aside Bolivia at home by a 3-0 score-line.
That makes it three victories on the run for Scaloni’s boys who are now unbeaten in 22 matches in all competitions. They have not conceded more than a single goal over the last nine games, keeping five clean sheets, while they have scored three or more goals in four of their last six outings. PSG star Messi has been in fine form in the qualifying competition scoring five goals already, while Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has three.
In midfield, Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa will aim to bring his club form to the international team, while at the back Spurs 23-year-old centre back Christian Romero will hope to make an appearance, probably alongside experienced defender Nicolas Otamendi. And between the sticks, Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez has really come of age after a brilliant season for club and country.
Argentina have a big game against Uruguay to follow this encounter, and with such quality running right through their team they will be looking for another six points this week.
Can Paraguay make it two victories on the bounce?
Paraguay’s Argentine head coach Berizzo needs to find a way of outwitting his opposite number, and if they can somehow get a win then their qualification campaign will be well and truly back on track. But they have failed to win back-to-back games over the last 20 games, winning six in total.
Four points in from the last two games, in September, a 1-1 draw with Colombia and then a well earned 2-1 victory over Venezuela has kept their hopes alive. They will be without top scorer Angel Romero who has four goals in the competition, but there is good pre-match Paraguay vs Argentina news for Berizzo following the announcement that Newcastle United’s striker Miguel Almiron is travelling to join his international team-mates. The Premier League team made their announcement on Monday afternoon which was a great relief to the player and his country. Almiron was blocked from travelling to Paraguay in September, as most South American countries were on the UK’s red travel list, but with restrictions easing Paraguay’s key man is airborne.
History
While Paraguay are twice Copa America winners, Argentina have been one of the most prolific nations in world football, winning the South American flagship competition 15 times, as well as winning two World Cups.
In terms of head to head meetings, Argentina have won seven of the last 16 encounters, drawing six and losing three. The two teams met at the 2021 Copa America group stage when Alejandro Gomez scored the only goal in Argentina’s 1-0 win, while Messi made a record-equalling 147th appearance for the national side.
Recent form is with the Albiceleste who have won four of the last six games, drawing the other two, while Paraguay have won two drawn two and lost two, the victory over Venezuela being the first win in five.
Betting Tip
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Paraguay vs Argentina | Argentina Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.80 |
| October 08, 07:00 (GMT+8) |
The Paraguay vs Argentina betting odds are backing an away win, with the hosts at 5.22 to pick up an unlikely win; and the draw at 3.30 doesn’t overly appeal whereas Argentina at SBOTOP odds of 1.61 looks like the answer.
But I’m looking for a little more value and backing the in-form Albiceleste to win with a bit to spare.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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