In the early hours of Friday morning, Chile welcome Argentina to Calama as CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying resumes.
With just four matches remaining, Chile find themselves sixth in the ten-team group – having picked up 16 points across the course of the campaign.
#SelecciónMayor Este lunes se puso en marcha la preparación de @Argentina para el primer compromiso de la doble fecha ante @LaRoja 🇨🇱. ¡Todo listo albicelestes! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/5OoLLTPkyr— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) January 25, 2022
#SelecciónMayor Este lunes se puso en marcha la preparación de @Argentina para el primer compromiso de la doble fecha ante @LaRoja 🇨🇱. ¡Todo listo albicelestes! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/5OoLLTPkyr
Meanwhile, Argentina sit second – six points behind first-place Brazil and 13 points ahead of Chile. They also have a game in hand over the hosts.
Chile have only managed to win four of their 14 World Cup qualifiers, registering four draws and six losses along the way.
They have managed to score just 15 goals, too, meaning only three teams have a poorer offensive record.
That said, the Chileans do boast the fourth-best defensive record in the group – having conceded 16 goals in 14 games.
It is also worth noting the Chile have lost just one of their previous six outings in all competitions, picking up four wins and a draw in that time.
On the flip side, Argentina remain one of only two teams – alongside Brazil – that have yet to taste defeat during the current qualifying campaign.
They have taken 29 points from a possible 39, securing eights wins and five draws. They also have the second-best defensive record in the group.
Having held the Brazilians to a goalless draw in their previous match, Argentina are currently enjoying a 27-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Their last defeat came during the 2019 Copa America semi-finals. Since then, they have lifted the Copa America trophy after beating Brazil back in July.
Head-to-head: Believe it or not, Chile and Argentina have faced each other a whopping 94 times over the years. Their first official meeting came all the way back in 1910.
Unfortunately for the Chileans, they have managed to beat Argentina on just eight occasions – suffering 61 losses along the way.
Team news: Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz returns to the Chile squad, having scored three goals in his last eight international appearances.
Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s latest squad to build match fitness. Lionel Scaloni has called up Aston Villa’s uncapped midfielder Emiliano Buendia instead.
Argentina may find themselves 13 points ahead of Chile, but they Chilean’s impressive defensive record suggests the hosts could get something from this match.
With that in mind, Forebet predicts that Chile will frustrate Argentina and hold the visitors to a goalless draw.