Argentina vs Paraguay, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – Preview, Prediction, Head-to-Head, Team Squads and More

The teams of Argentina and Paraguay will go head to head at Estadio Alberto Armando in Buenos Aires for a match of the third round of the South American FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers on Thursday. Argentina are second in the standings with an ideal record of six points, while their next adversaries are down at a fourth-place with two less.

La Albiceleste have been positioned among the top ten teams in the world for as long as quite a few years, and it’s almost unbelievable that they would pass up a spot in the World Cup.

Nonetheless, they let things be decided till the very last toward the end in the past edition of CONMEBOL qualifiers. Anything short of a triumph in the 18th and absolute last match-day, against Ecuador, would have denied Lionel Scaloni’s men entry into the 2018 World Cup.

Nonetheless, Lionel Messi delivered a virtuoso performance in the must-win match, and scored three goals in succession, in the wake of surrendering a mid one.

They have no goal to let anything of that sorts happen this time around, and are determined to make sure about the many points as they can in this beginning phase itself. So far they have done equity to that objective, and have kept up a 100% winning record.

This weekend they are at home, and are hosting Los Guaranies, against whom they have a fantastic h2h record. The 6-1 Albiceleste triumph against this opponent in the Copa 2015 semi-final, actually stays new in memory.

Besides, Eduardo Berizzo’s men have likewise been a disaster on the road for the last few attempts.

Round 3 of the Road to Qatar 2022 for Lionel Messi and the ‘Albiceleste’ happens in Buenos Aires as Lionel Scaloni’s men hope to expand on their strong beginning to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign as they face Paraguay. A game that fans in the US and Puerto Rico can watch on the online platform Fanatiz.

The game will be held at Boca Junior’s ‘La Bombonera’ stadium which, indeed will lie void without any allies in participation given the grave nature of the circumstance identifying with the Coronavirus pandemic in Argentina.

Argentina have protected greatest points from their opening two fixtures with a success over Ecuador followed by a dogged display in La Paz to beat Bolivia. Paraguay also are unbeaten from the opening fixtures and come into the game on the rear of a success over Venezuela after a 2-2 draw with Peru in the opening game.

Talking in front of the Buenos Aires conflict, Paraguay supervisor Eduardo Berizzo guaranteed: “We need to be valiant to win, decisive with the ball in attack and remain solid in defense”. The previous Celta Vigo manager additionally indicated that Junior Alonso is relied upon to supplant the harmed Blas Riveros.

Argentina defender Walter Kannemann recognized that each game against Paraguay is complicated and that the: “albirojos have an Argentine coach who is doing good things with the national side”.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni says Lionel Messi is fit to play in the Albiceleste’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.

It had been accounted for that Messi was uncertain for Thursday’s meeting with Paraguay at La Bombonera after revealing for obligation with an ankle issue.

Argentina vs Paraguay Team News

Argentina

Argentina, led by Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi, secured two triumphs in their opening games to arrive at the top of the South American qualifiers standings. They originate from a 2-1 away win over Bolivia and a 1-0 home triumph over Ecuador.

Argentina come into this game having won five of their last six matches in all competitions. They have won both their opening two World Cup Qualifiers also.

After football returned internationally Argentina drew with Chile before thrashing Mexico 4-0 at home. That was followed by an amazing 2-2 draw in Germany and a 6-1 hammering of Ecuador.

Another great outcome followed as Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 away before drawing against Uruguay.

Argentina’s World Cup Qualifying campaign commenced with a 1-0 home triumph over Ecuador. It was not the most extensive performance but rather a 13th minute Lionel Messi penalty saw them home.

In their last match, Argentina won 2-1 in Bolivia. Subsequent to falling behind Lautaro Martinez leveled before Carlos Correa guaranteed each of the three points went Argentina’s way with a winner 10 minutes from time.

Lionel Scaloni is probably going to stay with a comparative side that beat Bolivia last break. Lionel Messi is accessible and should form a front three with Lucas Ocampos and Lautaro Martinez.

Regardless of calls for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to become Argentina’s first choice, Franco Armani ought to hold his spot.

Paraguay

Paraguay haven’t won the two matches, yet stay unbeaten. They removed a fundamental 1-0 triumph in their visit to Venezuela and drew 2-2 at home to Peru an engaging opening round match.

Paraguay arrived at the second round of the 2019 Copa America where they missed out on penalties to Brazil after a 0-0 draw. From that point forward Paraguay will be reasonably happy with their form.

They played six progressive away matches after the South American showpiece event of which they won two, drew two and lost two.

Paraguay will be satisfied with the beginning of their World Cup Qualifying campaign where they opened up with a 2-2 draw at home to Peru. Angel Romero scored the two goals and has now hit the rear of the net five times in his last seven internationals.

In their last game, Paraguay won 1-0 in Venezuela because of an 85th-minute strike from Chicago Fire midfielder, Gaston Gimenez.

Paraguay have a strong squad accessible with Miguel Almiron and Gaston Gimenez offering wonderful midfield and attacking options.

In advance, Angel Romero will offer a lot of danger in the wake of scoring two goals in a 2-2 draw against Peru in the opening World Cup Qualifier.

Argentina vs Paraguay Head-to-Head (h2h)

Argentina and Paraguay have played 94 matches between one another. The Albiceleste have won 48 of those games, while the Paraguayan national team have taken 15. The rest of the matches (31) have been completed in draws.

The last meeting between these two sides was for the Copa America 2019, and it completed in a 1-1 draw, with Messi scoring for Argentina and Richard Sánchez for Paraguay.

Argentina lead 6-3 in 17 matches against Paraguay with eight draws. They last met in the 2019 Copa America in Brazil where it finished 1-1.

Argentina vs Paraguay Match Information

• Date: Thursday, November 12, 2020
• Time: 4:00 PM (PT), 7:00 PM (ET)
• Location: La Bombonera Stadium, Buenos Aires
• Argentina vs Paraguay: Times by State in the US
  • ET: 7:00 PM
  • CT: 6:00 PM
  • MT: 5:00 PM
  • PT: 4:00 PM

Where can you watch Argentina vs Paraguay?

On the off chance that the match is set to be shown in your country, you can see here what channels as well as online platforms will show the Argentina-Paraguay conflict.

Portugal: Sport TV 1
Qatar: beIN Sports 1
US: Fanatiz

How to watch or live stream Argentina vs Paraguay in the US

The South American FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying game among Argentina and Paraguay to be played on Thursday at La Bombonera arena in Buenos Aires will be broadcasted in the US by Fanatiz USA and FITE.

Argentina vs Paraguay Prediction

Argentina made hard work of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and just barely about scratched in yet they began this campaign off with two hard-battled prevails upon Ecuador and Bolivia a month ago and will hope to kick on beginning with this fixture against Paraguay.

Argentina have just dominated the competition in this fixture once in the last five meetings between the two however, and the guests have made a genuinely sure beginning to qualifying themselves, with four points achieved so distant from their two matches. They have a skill of keeping things tight and coordinated in defence, as appeared by the reality they have kept clean sheets in three of their last four games, and with Argentina – regardless of their two successes – yet to truly click in the attacking zones.

La Albiceleste recorded a 1-2 success on the road the last match-day, against Bolivia. Meanwhile, Berizzo’s men registered a 0-1 success away from home against Venezuela.

Going on, Scaloni’s men are on a nine-match unbeaten run and had additionally won four of the previous five fixtures. Indeed, their last loss had returned 14 months, against Brazil.

At home, they had won four of the former five appearances, and had scored a total of 15 goals from the previous five such games. Then again, their partners were winless in 16 of their last 20 overall matches and remained so in 12 of their previous 15 travels.

Besides, La Albiceleste additionally have lost quite recently thrice over the past 100 years against this rival, and even had recorded a 6-1 success in the 2015 Copa America semi-finals.

Argentina vs Paraguay Team Squads

Argentina Team Squad

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Augustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada, Emiliano Martínez.

Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Lisandro Martínez, Walter Kannemann, Facundo Medina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nehuén Pérez, Lucas Martínez Quarta.

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Domínguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Roberto Pereyra, Guido Rodríguez, Ángel Di María, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso.

Forwards: Nicolás González, Alejandro Gómez, Lionel Messi, Joaquín Correa, Lucas Ocampos, Lautaro Martínez, Lucas Alario.

Paraguay Team Squad

Goalkeepers: Alfredo Aguilar, Antony Silva, Miguel Martínez.

Defenders: Omar Alderete, Fabián Balbuena, Blás Riveros, Santiago Arzamendia, Robert Rojas, Juan Escobar, Júnior Alonso, Gustavo Gómez, Alberto Espínola.

Midfielders: Gastón Giménez, Rodrigo Rojas, Richard Sánchez, Miguel Almirón, Mathías Villasanti, Andrés Cubas, Jorge Morel, Matías Rojas, Ángel Cardozo, Óscar Romero.

Forwards: Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Ángel Romero, Antonio Sanabria, Hernán Pérez, Raúl Bobadilla, Darío Lezcano, Braian Samudio, Sebastián Ferreira