Argentina will aim to extend their unbeaten start to 2022 World Cup qualifying when they host Chile on Friday.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have taken ten points from a possible 12 so far and currently find themselves second in the South American group – two points behind first-place Brazil.
🏆 #Eliminatorias A continuación, repasamos la última victoria Albiceleste 🇦🇷 ante #Chile 🇨🇱📝 https://t.co/Slw2kYlNXo pic.twitter.com/48JxklBHHX— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) June 2, 2021
🏆 #Eliminatorias A continuación, repasamos la última victoria Albiceleste 🇦🇷 ante #Chile 🇨🇱📝 https://t.co/Slw2kYlNXo pic.twitter.com/48JxklBHHX
Meanwhile, Chile have only managed to claim four points from their opening four WCQ matches and sit sixth as a result – six points behind Argentina.
Argentina haven’t played a game for almost eight months, with their previous match coming all the way back in November 2020.
Scaloni’s men kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Ecuador, before sealing a 2-1 victory over Bolivia.
Following a 1-1 draw with Paraguay, Argentina beat Peru in their last game, thanks to goals from Nicolas Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez.
Looking at the bigger picture, Argentina have only lost four of their previous 28 home matches in all competitions. They have also avoided defeat in each of their last eight World Cup qualifiers.
Trends show that each of Argentina’s last five WCQ games have produced under 2.5 goals, so we are likely to see a low-scoring match on Friday.
On the other hand, Chile have not travelled well in recent times – losing each of their last five away matches in World Cup qualifying.
To make matters worse, they have only managed to win three of their previous 16 away games in all competitions.
Chile kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 loss to Uruguay, before being held to a 2-2 draw by Colombia.
After picking up their first win of the campaign on Matchday 3 – beating Peru 2-0 – Chile lost 2-1 to Venezuela.
Head-to-head: Chile have failed to win any of their last six meetings with Argentina, recording two draws and four losses along the way.
Although Argentina have won four of their previous five games against Chile, they have failed to score over 2.5 goals on each occasion.
Team news: Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia is line to make his Argentina debut, while Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi are expected to lead the line.
As for Chile, they will be without talisman Arturo Vidal, who has tested positive for COVID-19. Fabian Orellana has also picked up an injury.
Two of the last six meetings between Argentina and Chile have ended goalless, so the visitors will fancy their chances of frustrating the hosts on Friday.
With that in mind, Forebet predicts that Argentina and Chile will produce a low-scoring draw.