Brazil vs Argentina

One of football’s greatest international rivalries gets its first outing in two years when Brazil host Argentina in World Cup qualifying.

The giants of South American football have had their last two meetings cancelled due to a swirling flux of issues. Yet, any COVID-19 outbreaks notwithstanding, the Maracana will serve as the setting for a clash between two out-of-sorts nations.

Brazil limp into the fixture without a win since September following successive defeats to Uruguay and Colombia. Argentina were also undone by Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, losing their first match since becoming world champions in Qatar on home turf earlier this month.

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest edition of a famous rivalry.

Brazil vs Argentina H2H Results (Last Five Games)

Current Form (Last Five Games)

Carlo Ancelotti is still Real Madrid’s manager but Brazil are already giving him headaches. The Spanish giants may have lost Vinicius Junior for the rest of the calendar year after the fleet-footed forward pulled up with a serious thigh injury against Colombia.

In Vinicius’ absence, Brazil conceded a late Luis Diaz brace to lose 2-1. Neymar is nowhere near the squad while he recovers from an ACL tear and Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus is a major doubt with a hamstring problem.

Jesus’ teammate Gabriel Martinelli gave his nation the lead against Colombia but Fernando Diniz – the country’s interim coach – is desperately lacking a recognised centre-forward. Brighton’s Joao Pedro replaced Vinicius on the night while the highly rated but raw 17-year-old Endrick was given a late cameo.

Brazil predicted lineup (4-4-2): Alisson; Royal, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Lodi; Raphinha, Guimaraes, Andre, Martinelli; Rodrygo, Pedro.

The chief fitness concern for Lionel Scaloni to consider revolves around Nottingham Forest’s Gonzalo Montiel. The right-back has been nursing a calf problem and was an unused substitute in the defeat to Uruguay. Atletico Madrid’s Nahuel Molina is an able alternative.

Lionel Messi had some chunks taken out of him during a physical encounter at La Bombonera but saw out the full 90 minutes – despite delivering a sharp elbow to the chest of Mathias Olivera. There are few questions over Messi’s inclusion but Scaloni has plenty of decisions to make everywhere else on the pitch, especially in the wake of such a disappointing display.

Argentina predicted lineup (4-3-3): E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, L Martinez, Gonzalez.

Incredibly, Brazil have never lost a World Cup qualifier at home, a run stretching back more than half a century. However, the five-time competition winners have already suffered two defeats on the road in this qualification process – only once before (2002) have Brazil ever lost more games on their way to the World Cup.

Argentina defeated Brazil to win the 2021 Copa America final on their most recent trip to the Maracana. The World Cup champions have only improved since that showpiece while Brazil, robbed of so many attacking assets for Wednesday’s contest, have been significantly weakened.

Lacking the cohesion and aggression that Bielsa’s Uruguay used to disorientate Argentina, Brazil may fall to a historic defeat against the foe that would cherish ending their unbeaten home record more than any other.

Prediction: Brazil 1-2 Argentina

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