MX23RW : Friday, July 5 07:38:51| >> :120:51135:51135:
[monks data]
Portugal national football team
International Friendlies
Nov 18, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Argentina national football team

1-0

Guerreiro (92')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Portugal vs. Argentina

Sports Mole looks ahead to the international friendly at Old Trafford between Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Lionel Messi's Argentina.

For just the second time since his 2009 departure to Real Madrid, former Manchester United talisman Cristiano Ronaldo will turn out at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.

Fitness permitting, the 29-year-old, who is still revered by the United faithful, will captain a Portugal side that will face World Cup finalists Argentina in a friendly encounter.

Ronaldo proved his worth to the Seleccao on Friday evening when he scored the only goal of the game against Armenia to give his side a critical three points in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Yet, while Ronaldo is known to yearn for the spotlight, he will have to share it on Tuesday evening with a certain Lionel Messi.

Indeed, it will be the first time that the pair have come face to face since Ronaldo was forced to deny claims in Spanish journalist Guillem Balague's book that he has a derogatory nickname for the Barcelona star when inside the walls of the Madrid dressing room.

When these two sides last met in 2011, both players found the net, but it was Messi's goal that ended up being the most crucial as he fired in a stoppage-time penalty to seal a 2-1 win for the Argentines.

It secured a fifth victory for the South American nation over their European counterparts, who have won this fixture on just one previous occasion - back in 1972 when the late Eusebio was among the goalscorers.

As well as the battle between Ronaldo and Messi, plenty of other talent is expected to be on show in both lineups, with the likes of Angel di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Joao Moutinho and Nani all tipped to feature at some point.

Portugal:

Form in friendlies: LWDWWL
Form in all competitions: DWLLWW

Possible starting lineup: Patricio; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Pepe, Guerreiro; Tiago, Danny, Moutinho, Nani; Ronaldo, Eder

Argentina:

Form in friendlies: WWWLWW
Form in all competitions: DLWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Caballero; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Ansaldi; Mascherano, Perez; Di Maria, Messi, Aguero; Tevez

Sports Mole says: 0-2


ID:188560: cacheID:188560:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4579:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Argentina defender Christian Ansaldi celebrates after scoring an equalising goal with Argentina striker Lionel Messi during the international friendly football match between Croatia and Argentina at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in London on November 12,
Read Next:
Argentina squeeze past Croatia
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!