Date and Time: 26th March 2022 @5:00 AM IST
Venue: La Bombonera
Argentina vs Venezuela, Where to watch?
India: Sony Sports Network
Argentina vs Venezuela Team News:
Argentina:
Argentina will be without nine players for the remainder of the month, including Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Emiliano Buendia, and Giovani Lo Celso, who have all been handed two-game suspensions after being found to have violated COVID-19 protocols against Brazil in September of last year. As a result of testing positive for coronavirus, Lautaro Martinez is out for the season, while Paulo Dybala, Marcos Acuna, Lisandro Martinez, and Alejandro Gomez are all out with injuries.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has returned to the senior squad after recovering from a bout of COVID-19 last month. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to start, with two of Angel Di Maria, Julian Alvarez, Angel Correa, Joaquin Correa, and Lucas Boye, who has never played for Argentina, set to join him up front.
In addition to Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico, who are both allowed to play on Friday after serving one-match bans the last time out, they are also expected to start at centre defender and left-back, respectively. Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul were both given one-game suspensions, and they both might be given opportunities to play with Guido Rodriguez.
Venezuela:
While Cristian Casseres is ready to play for Venezuela after his one-match ban last month, he is expected to fight with Jose Martinez for a starting position in midfield alongside 115-cap Tomas Rincon. Jhon Chancellor, Nahuel Ferraresi, and Oscar Gonzalez will all compete for the right-back position, with experienced defender Roberto Rosales expecting to take over for Ronald Hernandez in that position.
Salomon Rondon of Everton, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Bolivia in January, is expected to retain his starting position in front of Josef Martinez, with Darwin Machis and Yeferson Soteldo set to start on the wings.
Argentina vs Venezuela Probable Playing XI:
Argentina possible starting lineup:
Armani; Molina, Otamendi, Martinez Quarta, Tagliafico; De Paul, Rodriguez, Paredes; Messi, J. Correa, Di Maria
Venezuela possible starting lineup:
Farinez; Rosales, Chancellor, Ferraresi, Gonzalez; Martinez, Rincon; Machis, Otero, Soteldo; Rondon
Argentina vs Venezuela Betting Predictions:
Match Betting: Argentina win (1.16)
Draw (7.00)
Venezuela win (17.00)
The One-Liner Explainer:
While Venezuela will be under no pressure in Buenos Aires since they have already been eliminated, Argentina will be hoping to keep their modest ambitions of finishing above table leaders Brazil alive with a win on Friday in the Argentine capital. Even though La Albiceleste will be without several key players, we anticipate them to earn a simple victory on home soil and continue their excellent undefeated record.
