World champions Argentina will look to preserve their perfect start in 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying when they play host to Paraguay at Estadio Mas Monumental on Friday.
The two nations are preparing for their first international match since they were announced as joint-hosts along with Uruguay for the opening games of the 2030 World Cup to mark the 100-year anniversary of the prestigious competition.
Match preview
© Reuters
Since winning the 2022 World Cup final against France, Argentina have not put a foot wrong as they have won six games in a row by an aggregate score of 17-0.
Comfortable friendly victories over Panama, Curacao, Australia and Indonesia between March and June of this year were followed by a 1-0 win over Ecuador and a 3-0 success away against Bolivia in their opening two World Cup qualifiers last month.
Without the presence of talisman Lionel Messi, La Albiceleste relied on goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Tagliafico and Nicolas Gonzalez to secure all three points against a Bolivia side who were reduced to 10 men six minutes before half time.
Argentina, ranked first in the world by FIFA, currently sit joint top of the CONMEBOL standings along with fellow Brazilian giants Brazil, and Lionel Scaloni's side will be confident of extending their 12-match winning streak in all competitions on Friday as they have won 18 and drawn eight of their last 28 World Cup qualifiers on home soil, dating back to September 2009.
However, Friday's clash with Paraguay cannot be considered a cakewalk as La Albiceleste have only won one of their last six encounters against the Albirroja, including a goalless draw in their last meeting in a 2022 World Cup qualifier.
© Reuters
Following a run of just one win in seven games over the last 12 months, Paraguay decided to part company with manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto in September after nearly two years in charge.
Schelotto's side could only pick up a point in a goalless home draw with 10-man Peru in their opening World Cup qualifier, despite playing the entire second half with an extra man, before suffering a slender 1-0 defeat to Venezuela on matchday two, with Salomon Rondon netting a 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot.
Paraguay, ranked 52nd in the world by FIFA, have since appointed another Argentine as their new head coach in the form of Daniel Garnero, who has decided to take his first international managerial role after spending the last eight years coaching at club level in Paraguay.
Garnero has vowed to implement an attack-minded possession-based philosophy as Paraguay boss, and the 54-year-old will be thrown straight in at the deep end when he takes charge of his first game against world champions Argentina, a nation that he represented just once as a player back in 1995.
A much-needed injection of quality in the final third is needed for the Albirroja as they have only scored one goal in their last 11 competitive fixtures in all competitions, while they last scored away from home in a competitive match back in November 2020 when they played out a 1-1 draw with Friday's opponents Argentina in World Cup qualifying.
Team News
© Reuters
Argentina duo Paulo Dybala (knee) and Juan Foyth (unspecified) have withdrawn from the national team squad due to injury, while Lisandro Martinez is unavailable for selection as he continues to recover from metatarsal surgery.
However, Lionel Messi has recovered from a muscle problem and could be fit to start on the right side of a front three that may include Manchester City's Julian Alvarez and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez.
Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi are expected to continue in central defence, while Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul are all set to link arms in centre-midfield.
AC Milan left-back Marco Pellegrino and Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz are two of seven uncapped players named in Scaloni's squad and they will be pushing to feature in some capacity on Friday.
As for Paraguay, midfield trio Andres Cubas, Cristhian Paredes and Diego Gomez have all been forced to withdraw from the national team squad due to injury.
Richard Sanchez and Alejandro Romero could therefore be handed starts in the middle of the pitch with Mathias Villasanti, who has started in each of the last eight matches for the Albirroja.
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron, one of three Paraguayan players in Garnero's squad that has earned over 50 senior caps, is expected to start in the front three alongside Gabriel Avalos and Ramon Sosa.
Argentina possible starting lineup:
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez, Gonzalez
Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Rojas, Balbuena, Gomez, Alonso; Villasanti, Sanchez, Romero; Almiron, Avalos, Sosa
We say: Argentina 3-0 Paraguay
All eyes will be on whether Lionel Messi is passed fit to feature on Friday, but even if the 36-year-old is not involved, Argentina will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top.
Paraguay have frustrated Argentina over the years, but we believe that the world champions have enough quality in their side to pick up maximum points against a goal-shy Albirroja outfit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Argentina
Uruguay
Ecuador
Colombia
Brazil
Paraguay
Bolivia
Venezuela
Chile
Peru
