Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
United Arab Emirates

Argentinavs.Bolivia

sportsmole.co.uk, 13 October 2024, 16:13
Lionel Scaloni could reinstate Lautaro Martinez to the Argentine starting lineup when they host Bolivia in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

Martinez was only a substitute away in Venezuela on Thursday, as Argentina limped to a 1-1 draw in Maturin, but Scaloni could go more offensive against a Bolivia side who rarely travel well in qualifying.

La Verde have only ever taken one point in 11 previous away qualifiers against Argentina, meaning the hosts could have more freedom to be open and expansive here than they were when they struggled against a tricky Venezuela side last week.

Thiago Almada was the man preferred as one of the three offensive options for Argentina last week, after he was rewarded for his fine club form with a start, but was hooked at the interval.

The home side will also hope Lionel Messi can have more of an influence on proceedings, after he struggled to contribute much on his return to the national side after a three-month layoff.

Messi has scored five goals in four starts since returning for Inter Miami, and he has also scored more goals against Bolivia than any other national side - eight - so the Argentine number 10 will be looking to add to that tally here.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is still out suspended and will not return until November's internationals, but Cristian Romero will be available to Scaloni once again after he served his ban in the draw with Venezuela.

Exequiel Palacios is back in the squad after missing the start of the season with injury, but the Bayer Leverkusen man was an unused sub in Maturin, and will likely be left on the bench again behind the in-form Giovani Lo Celso here.

Injuries to Paulo Dybala, Nicolas Gonzalez, Marcos Acuna and Alejandro Garnacho saw them all pull out of the squad shortly before travelling, but none of their replacements got a look in last week.

Julio Soler and Nico Paz are both eyeing up a first cap, while Facundo Buonanotte could get just his third after being the replacement for Garnacho, but if so, that is likely to come from the bench.

Argentina possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Lo Celso; La Martinez, Alvarez, Messi

Show more

Top News

10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who have had a contrasting start to the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign square off on Sunday morning as DC United and FC Cincinnati go head to head at Audi Field. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City will continue their Championship playoff bid when they travel to the capital for Saturday's meeting with Queens Park Rangers. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich will host fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday at Allianz Arena. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate is supposedly holding out for a mammoth pay rise before he commits his future to the Reds with a new contract. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Bayer Leverkusen must beat Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday at BayArena and hope that Bayern Munich drop points if they have ambitions of retaining their title. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace have reportedly baulked at Liverpool's asking price for up-and-coming attacker Ben Doak, but the Reds could be willing to let him go for lower than their valuation. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Paul Scholes has claimed that he doesn't think that Ruben Amorim likes his Manchester United team. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides with similar starts to the 2025 Major League Soccer season are in action on Saturday as Orlando City welcome New York Red Bulls to Inter&Co Stadium. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly made contact over a summer deal for a Premier League goalkeeper in the wake of Andre Onana's latest horror show. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In what may prove to be a decisive match in the battle for European football, Borussia Monchengladbach will welcome Freiburg to Borussia Park on Saturday in their 29th Bundesliga game of the season. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Add Paddy Pimblett to the long line of Liverpool supporters who can't wait to see the back of Trent Alexander-Arnold. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Andre Onana's worst nightmares came true with a horror display against a Lyon side who had it in for him. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two mistakes from Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana prevented the Red Devils from securing a famous win over Lyon on Thursday night, with the Europa League quarter-final first leg in France finishing 2-2. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers kept their Europa League hopes alive with a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their quarter-final clash, despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Always on top at Manchester United when it comes to production, Bruno Fernandes has now grabbed an impressive European record. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final clash on Thursday night. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to bounce back from their recent setback, Sporting Lisbon make the long trip to the Azores as they face Santa Clara in gameweek 29 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday evening. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides separated by just a point in the Primeira Liga standings will square off on Saturday, as Famalicao welcome Estoril Praia to Estadio Municipal for a round 29 showdown. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Porto will seek redemption following last weekend's nightmare showing when they travel to Casa Pia in round 29 of the Primeira Liga this Saturday. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday's gameweek 32 action in Serie A pits second-bottom Venezia against cellar-dwelling Monza at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Los Angeles FC seek a response to their CONCACAF Champions Cup exit as they host the San Jose Earthquakes in Saturday's MLS contest at BMO Stadium. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Eredivisie this weekend when they travel to Rat Verlegh Stadion to face NAC Breda on Saturday evening. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will have a strong lead to defend in the second leg of their Conference League Quarter-Final after beating Legia Warsaw 2-0 at Stadion Legii Warszawa im. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Articles 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton have reportedly added Will Still to their list of potential new managers ahead of next season. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday brings us a David vs. Goliath clash in the Eredivisie, with defending champions PSV Eindhoven playing host to a struggling Almere City at Philips Stadion. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Amad Diallo has hinted at an imminent return for the Red Devils. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Tottenham can ease the growing pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou during their crunch showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt. 10 April 2025 talksport.com Manchester United get their make-or-break Europa League quarter-final against Lyon underway this evening. 10 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly positioned ahead of Everton in the race for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.