Argentina vs Paraguay Betting Odds and Predictions – World Cup qualification 2022
Argentina want to build on a strong streak against Paraguay
⚽️ Competition: World Cup – Qualification CONMEBOL
🔺 Date: 11/13/2020
🔻 Betting Prediction: Argentina to win + Under 3.5 goals
🔺 Betting Odds: 2.15
🔻 Stake: 4/10 units
The national team of Argentina made an optimal start in South America’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup and won its two opening games – now there are two more international matches in the World Cup qualifying.
On the 3rd matchday, the Albiceleste will host the Paraguayan national team from Friday to Saturday at the La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires.
The Paraguayans also got off to a good start in the qualification and have so far collected four points from the two games, nonetheless, the Argentines are the clear favourites, like before Argentina vs. Paraguay illustrate the odds.
The best betting providers see the team of captain Lionel Messi clearly ahead, and we are also flirting with Argentina vs. Paraguay with a tip on the home team, but it should be noted that Messi and Co. had extremely difficult times against La Albirroja in the last duels (see head-to-head comparison).
Argentina – Statistics & current form
Two wins from two games: Argentina’s start in the World Cup qualifying was successful, even if there was still a lot of room for improvement in terms of play – which of course is not surprising given the little time the national players spend together with the national team.
On matchday 1 there was a narrow 1-0 home win against Ecuador at the start, here an early penalty by captain Lionel Messi put the gauchos on course against a weak opponent early on. Then Argentina followed suit in the difficult guest game in Bolivia on matchday two, winning in La Paz at an altitude of 3600 meters after a temporary deficit with 2: 1.
Argentina’s strong run
This away win in particular should have created a lot of self-confidence, after all, Argentina’s record in Bolivia was anything but rosy. In addition, the current strong run gives the gauchos tailwind: Thanks to the narrow success in La Paz, Argentina has been without defeat for ten international matches – and celebrated seven wins.
The last defeat was in March 2019, a 3-1 in a friendly against Venezuela. Argentina’s good defence is particularly striking in the ten games without bankruptcy, here they conceded only seven goals, in five of the ten games they were zero.
Scalonis track record
Under coach Lionel Scaloni, the team acts more as a unit, which is reflected on the pitch, but also in the results: Scaloni has looked after the Albiceleste for 23 games, only four of them were lost. His balance as a coach is 14 wins / 5 draws / 4 defeats, he has an average of 2.04 points.
Given these numbers, it is hardly surprising that the Scaloni team in the game Argentina vs. Paraguay is the favourite, as the betting odds clearly show.
The probable lineup of Argentina:
➤ E. Martinez – Medina, Otamendi, Martinez Quarta, Tagliafico – De Paul, Paredes, Dominguez – Messi, L. Martinez, Ocampos
Last matches from Argentina:
World Cup – Qualification CONMEBOL – 1st round
⚽️ 10/13 2020 Bolivia 1 – 2 Argentina
⚽️ 10/09 2020 Argentina 1 – 0 Ecuador
Friendly match
⚽️ 11/18 2019 Argentina 2 – 2 Uruguay
⚽️ 11/15 2019 Brazil 0 – 1 Argentina
⚽️ 10/13 2019 Argentina 6 – 1 Ecuador
Paraguay – Statistics & current form
The Paraguayans will also be anything but dissatisfied with their start in the World Cup qualifying, even if they even managed more than the four points from the two previous games.
Because in the first qualifying game, the home duel with Peru, Paraguay only conceded the equalizer in the 85th minute, so that in the end they had to be content with a 2-2, which was, however, fair.
Paraguay takes a deep breath
That 85th minute in the second game in Venezuela was a much-acclaimed moment from Paraguay’s point of view, as the winning goal for the 1-0 away win was scored in that very minute. But Paraguay was very lucky with this away win, as Venezuela missed a penalty in the 95th minute.
It could very well have been just two points at the start, so Paraguay can live very well with those four points. The Albirroja currently ranks fourth and has no real pressure to succeed in the difficult guest appearance in Buenos Aires.
Does Berizzo use cautious counter-tactics?
One can therefore expect that the Paraguayans will approach the game with caution and that their match plan provides for damage to the Argentines through counterattacks and counter-attacks.
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron will play a key role in this.
At the top, either ex-Ingolstadt striker Dario Lezcano (now playing for FC Juarez in Mexico) could secure the ball, or Paraguay’s coach Eduardo Berizzo relies on Betis Sevilla’s’ striker Antonio Sanabria, who last scored against FC Barcelona and is in good shape.
Speaking of the form: Paraguay has now been unbeaten in five games, including three friendlies against Slovakia (1-1), Bulgaria (1-0) and Saudi Arabia (0-0).
Probable lineup of Paraguay:
➤ Silva – Espinola, Gomez, Alonso, Riveros – Cubas, Gimenez, Villasanti, A. Romero, Almiron – Sanabria
Last matches from Paraguay:
World Cup – Qualification CONMEBOL – 1st round
⚽️ 10/14 2020 Venezuela 0 – 1 Paraguay
⚽️ 10/09 2020 Paraguay 2 – 2 Peru
Friendly match
⚽️ 11/19 2019 Saudi Arabia 0 – 0 Paraguay
⚽️ 11/14 2019 Bulgaria 0 – 1 Paraguay
⚽️ 10/13 2019 Slovakia 1 – 1 Paraguay
Argentina vs Paraguay – Direct comparison / H2H balance
The two teams met 44 times, Argentina won 26 of them, 15 draws and only three wins for Paraguay. That also explains why the tip on a home win in Argentina against Paraguay seems quite logical.
But be careful: Argentina could only win one of the last five duels against Paraguay, this victory dates from 2015, a 6-1 at the Copa America. Otherwise, Paraguay also won a game, three of the last five games ended in a draw.
Messi and Co. have had a very difficult time recently, have been waiting for a win against Paraguay for three games and only scored one goal – Messi scored it with a penalty in the last meeting in June 2019, which ended 1: 1.
Looking at this latest record, we hold on to Argentina vs Paraguay predicts under 2.5 goals given the odds of an average of 2.30 for lucrative value.
Argentina vs Paraguay betting odds compared
🔻 Betting Prediction: Argentina
🔺 Betting Odds: 1.3
🔻 Betting Prediction: Draw
🔺 Betting Odds: 5.25
🔻 Betting Prediction: Paraguay
🔺 Betting Odds: 9
Argentina vs Paraguay Betting Odds and Predictions
The Albiceleste want to build on their strong streak of ten undefeated games and take the next step towards a successful World Cup qualification, a home win against Paraguay is firmly planned.
This endeavour will not be easy, however, as they showed how vicious the Paraguayans can be, not only in the direct duels against Argentina, but also in their two opening games against Venezuela and Peru.
Key facts – Argentina vs Paraguay tips
🔺 Argentina have only won one of their last five games against Paraguay
🔺 Argentina have been unbeaten for ten games and have won seven of them
🔺 Most recently, Argentina’s defence was good (five out of ten games were zero)
Because Argentina is the clear favourites in most qualifying games, teams are extra careful against them. We, therefore, expect another rather unsightly game with few goals – as is not uncommon in South America.
Nonetheless, a point loss by Argentina would come as a surprise; the bottom line is that we are betting on a narrow success for the gauchos. In Argentina vs. Paraguay our prediction: Argentina will win and under 3.5 goals.
