Chile has only beaten the Argentines six times (7%) in their 86-match history of head-to-head encounters. Will Martin Lasarte's men be able to improve that statistic in the upcoming game? Our prediction: the Blue and Whites will once again be closer to success!
Argentina current form
Argentina is a regular participant in World Cups. Only once, in 1970, they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Mexico and might have missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but still managed to get involved on time and qualify for the tournament. Now, the Blue and Whites are doing quite well in their qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, as they've managed to pick up three wins and one draw in their four initial meetings. It is obvious that Lionel Scaloni was able to get through to his star charges, who began to play hard and responsibly, which is why they now occupy a high second place in the standings.
Chile current form
Chile cannot boast that they consistently qualify for the World Cup. A striking example of this is their qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, where they managed to lose all the important matches and missed the World Cup in Russia. The Chileans did not get off to the best start in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. In the opening round, the Reds were defeated by Uruguay - 1:2, then there was a draw with Colombia - 2-2, a victory over Peru - 2-0, but in the last round, there was an unexpected defeat against Venezuela - 1-2. So it turns out that in four games, the Chileans have only four points, and that's why they are only in sixth place in the standings
Experts betting tips
The Chilean team has had a disastrously hard time playing against Argentina historically, winning only 6 of their 86 head-to-head encounters (7%), and they wait on these rare occasions very anxiously until the interlude in the finals of some major tournament like he America's Cup happens. Obviously, the next meeting will only be in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, so don't expect incredible feats from the Chileans. The charges of Lionel Scaloni will play an important match again, get their three points and continue to feel comfortable in the standings, and you can bet on the victory of the national team of Argentina with a handicap (-1) at odds of about 2.30.
Argentina and Chile have not played a particularly productive head-to-head game in a long time. The last time it happened in 2011, when the Blues won 4-1, after which the rivals only managed 13 goals (1.63 on average per game) in eight head-to-head encounters, which is paltry by the standards of South American soccer. Now the Argentines play very pragmatically and for the result, and the Chileans don't have the courage to offer their opponent an open game away, so the best option for the forecast looks like a total of less than 2.5 goals at odds close to 1.90.
For Lionel Messi the start of qualifying for the World Cup 2022 did not start in the best way, as evidenced by only one goal in the four initial meetings, but in the autumn, when those games were played, the Argentine was engaged in quarrels with Barcelona, and now the situation began to gradually subside. All this has also affected the game of the 33-year-old player, who in the last 25 games has recorded 24 goals for the Catalan club. It is obvious that now the legendary player is in good shape, so it is worth looking at a trivial bet on the goal of Lionel Messi with odds of about 2.00.
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