Paraguay vs Argentina Preview: Team News & Prediction

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After his MLS playoff exit for Inter Miami, Argentina's Lionel Messi only has two more competitive fixture this year, starting with this World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 14th November, 2024: UK – 11:30pm / US ET – 6:30pm / US PT – 3:30pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Fanatiz

Paraguay Preview: Unbeaten in four

Paraguay are very much in the mix for one of the automatic qualification slots having picked up seven points from the last nine available in the CONMEBOL section, with an Antonio Sanabria double seeing them come from behind to defeat Venezuela in their most recent fixture last month.

La Albirroja are unbeaten - two wins and two defeats - since Gustavo Alfaro took over in August, while they have won three of their last four qualifiers on home turf.

Argentina Preview: Table-toppers

Argentina remain top of the CONMEBOL qualifying section heading into the first set of November fixtures, following last month's draw with Venezuela and defeat of Bolivia.

The 6-0 victory over Bolivia included the tenth international hat-trick of Lionel Messi's career, drawing him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in that respect, and the Argentinian captain will feature once more in these qualifiers having recently suffered playoff heartache for club side Inter Miami in the MLS.

All of Lionel Messi's Career Hat-tricks

Paraguay Squad

Argentina squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, England), Walter Benítez (PSV, Netherlands), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille, France)

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla, Spain), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, England), Germán Pezzella (River Plate, Argentina), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille, France), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal), Nehuén Pérez (Porto, Portugal), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United, England), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon, France)

Midfielders: Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, England), Leandro Paredes (Roma, Italy), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, England), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, Spain), Enzo Barrenechea (Valencia, Spain), Thiago Almada (Botafogo, Brazil), Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester City, England), Nicolás Paz (Como 1907, Italy)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United, England), Nicolás González (Juventus, Italy), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Italy), Valentín Castellanos (Lazio, Italy)

Key Stats

• Paraguay have lost only one of their last seven World Cup qualifying matches (W3 D3).
• Paraguay have won four of their last six World Cup qualifying matches at home (D1 L1).
• Paraguay have lost only one of their last six World Cup qualifying matches at home against Argentina (W2 D3).
• Paraguay have kept four clean sheets in their last five World Cup qualifying matches at home against Argentina.
• Argentina have lost only one of their last 12 international matches against Paraguay (W6 D5).
• Argentina have lost only three of their previous 21 World Cup qualifying matches against Paraguay (W7 D11).
• Argentina have lost only two of their last 31 World Cup qualifying matches (W19 D10).
• Argentina have kept 15 clean sheets in their last 20 World Cup qualifying matches.

Paraguay vs Argentina Prediction

In recent times, this has been a very low-scoring fixture with plenty of draws. Indeed, the last seven meeting between the two have each contained two goals or fewer. In all likelihood, both teams may be content with a share of the spoils here, but Argentina ultimately possess the superior firepower that can lead them to victory.

With the visitors having kept clean sheets in 15 of their last 20 qualifiers, coupled with the fact that Paraguay have scored just four goals in the current qualifying cycle, and you have the recipe for an Argentina win to nil.

Paraguay vs Argentina Tip: Argentina to win to nil