Chile Vs Argentina
Chile Vs Argentina Friday 28 January, 2022 – 00:15 (GMT)
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Both Teams to Score – NO
Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 26 January 2022)
Preview: With four qualifying rounds left to go and ground to make up on the teams above them, Chile realistically need to win Friday’s contest at Estadio Zorros del Desierto but know a loss could spell disaster. They can expect little charity from their guests, however, with Argentina keen to preserve their unbeaten record garnered over the course of 2022 World Cup qualifying.
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Table of Contents
Chile – Qualifying aspirations teetering on the brink?
La Roja have qualified for the World Cup on nine occasions but failed to make the cut last time around for the first time in three editions. If they are not careful, though, they could miss out on successive finals for the first time since 2002 and 2006. This is because Martin Lasarte and his players are toiling as we approach the critical final straight, which comprises games against Bolivia, Brazil and Uruguay.
None of those contest are set to be straightforward, with trips to La Paz and Belo Horizonte fraught with danger while Uruguay are struggling themselves, so that fixture could easily be a winner-takes-all scenario. And this is before we factor in Friday’s visit from an unbeaten Argentina. Chile’s recent results have improved (W4 D1 L1) however, and their record as hosts thus far is better than reasonable (W3 D2 L2).
Key Stat: Five of seven home qualifiers failed to produce Both Teams to Score or Over 2.5 Goals. Chile won three of these encounters meanwhile, all of them to nil.
Argentina – Long undefeated spell under Scaloni at stake?
La Albiceleste may not always convince once at the tournament, but they will be at Qatar in December for what will be their 12th consecutive World Cup appearance. This after an impressive qualifying campaign so far which has seen them average 2.2 points-per-game, concede only six times in 13 qualifiers, and accumulate more points (29 from 39) than all bar Brazil. They are also yet to taste defeat (W8 D5).
Lionel Scaloni won’t want to risk relinquishing much in the way of momentum, despite early qualification, as the Argentines are prone to slumps. That certainly isn’t the case right now, though, unbeaten in 21 matches – including all six away qualifiers so far (W4 D2) – going back to July 2019. There was also a Copa America triumph in the midst of that. So their tails are up and they will want to finish with a flourish.
Key Stat: A 0-0 draw at home to Brazil in their latest qualifying outing marked a sixth successive clean sheet for Emiliano Martinez in the Argentina goal. Since the start of 2021 they have conceded just seven times in 14 matches, recording ten clean sheets.
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Chile Vs Argentina Betting Advice
There could well be an air of freedom about the way Argentina play on Friday having already confirmed their place at the tournament with a handful of games to spare. It is a position Chile can only dream of, as they are in a right pickle. Currently sixth, Martin Lasarte’s team simply don’t have any margin for error especially ahead of a brutal schedule which sees them head to Bolivia and Brazil after this.
Chile Vs Argentina – Key Facts:
- There have been fewer than three goals in five of the last six head-to-heads between the nations. Meanwhile, Argentina are unbeaten across the last 11 meetings (W6 D5).
- Chile (W4 D4 L6) are in urgent need of points but are facing an Argentina side that, while already qualified, will want to maintain their undefeated record so far (W8 D5).
- All but two Chilean home qualifiers failed to produce Both Teams to Score. None of Argentina’s previous six qualifiers saw both teams score, keeping a clean sheet in each.
With so much riding on the outcome, we can probably expect a tense atmosphere inside Estadio Zorros del Desierto, which could impact the quality out on the pitch. Chile retain a mixed record at home (W3 D2 L2), and while we are yet to see a goalless draw, five of seven said matches either didn’t produce BTTS or Over 2.5 Goals. Meanwhile, Argentina are seeking a seventh successive clean sheet. So this go low on goals once more, as was the case in five of their last six meetings.
Best Betting Odds – Chile Vs Argentina
Chile – 17/10 (BetVictor)
Draw – 2/1 (PaddyPower)
Argentina -9/5 (Betfair)
