This week brings us the start of the Copa America and our first fixture features the Group A clash between Argentina and Chile at the Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro with both teams keen to make a positive start to the group campaign.
Argentina have made a solid and steady start to their World Cup qualifying campaign and occupy 2nd place in the South American group six points behind Brazil, having won three and drawn three to date.
🏆 #CopaAmérica ¡Llegamos a #Brasil 🇧🇷!Comienza otra ilusión,#VamosArgentina 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/O1ShDqSYz5— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) June 13, 2021
🏆 #CopaAmérica ¡Llegamos a #Brasil 🇧🇷!Comienza otra ilusión,#VamosArgentina 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/O1ShDqSYz5
Although Argentina have recorded wins against Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.
The recent draws have resulted in them losing ground on Brazil who sit six points clear at the top of the qualifying table, following stalemates with Paraguay 1-1, Chile 1-1 and Colombia 2-2.
Argentina are unbeaten in their last 13 matches in all competitions but it’s a pretty even split between wins and draws, with seven wins and six stalemates, while their recent encounter against Chile earlier this month resulted in a 1-1 draw.
Chile extended their unbeaten run in the World Cup qualifiers to two matches a few days ago when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bolivia which followed a 2-1 home win over the same opponents in an international friendly and the aforementioned 1-1 draw away at Argentina.
Nevertheless, Chile have dropped down to 7th place in the South American qualifying standings but are still only two points adrift of Uruguay and the top four and having picked up a point against Argentina.
Chile will feel they stand a chance of taking something out of this upcoming clash as well.
The draw has featured prominently in Chile’s World Cup qualifying campaign as well as they’ve drawn three of their six group matches to date and they know that a top four spot in Group A of this Copa America would see them through to the quarter-finals.
So, they’ll be aiming for a point against Argentina and then take their chances in the subsequent fixtures against Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Previous encounters between Argentina and Chile have produced three draws from their last five meetings and this upcoming fixture may well see it ending all square here too in what could prove to be a cagey affair in this opener for both sides.