Argentina vs. Brazil is always an intense affair. Even more so when World Cup qualifying points are up for grabs. Even more still when both have gotten off to less-than-perfect starts.
The wild and intense ride that is CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying resumes on Thursday with the start of its third round of action, and the match that seemingly everyone is talking about is the Superclasico. Arch-rivals Argentina and Brazil will square off at El Monumental in Buenos Aires in the latest chapter of their historic feud, and there is even more incentive than usual for each of them to come out aggressively after both failed to pick up maximum points from their first two qualifiers in October.
The good news for Brazil is that in-form Neymar is back from his suspension while Argentina will have to find a way to deal, and score a goal, without injured superstar Leo Messi in what is sure to be a sizzling and entertaining encounter.
While Argentina-Brazil will be the talk of the town on Thursday, the eight other South American nations will continue their campaigns with intriguing showdowns on Matchday 3. Ecuador and Uruguay face off in a battle of the top two teams in the standings right now, undefeated Chile takes on Colombia, Bolivia meets Venezuela in a meeting between the two cellar dwellers, and Peru aims to grab its first win vs. Paraguay in Friday’s lone fixture.
Here is a closer look at the third round of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying:
BOLIVIA vs. VENEZUELA
(3 pm ET – beIN Sports, beIN Sports Connect | 5 pm ET tape delay – beIN Sports Espanol)
If the traditional lightweights of South America are to avoid falling in a deeper hole, three points are a must in this round. Both Bolivia and Venezuela dropped their first two decisions in qualifying, and sit in the last two places in the standings right now.
Bolivia will have the edge in this one since it is playing at home in the familiar altitude of Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, but it needs to find its scoring touch. La Verde was held without a goal when it hosted Uruguay and visited Ecuador last month, and will be hoping that at least one of its bevy of young and inexperienced forwards, like Yasmani Duk, can have a bigger impact this time around.
Venezuela also needs to get going offensively. La Vinotinto netted just once in its first two games — in a 3-1 road loss to Brazil — while conceding four times. Venezuela has a more talented attack on paper than Bolivia, however, with players like Salomon Rondon of West Bromwich Albion and Torino’s Josef Martinez among those available for selection.
ECUADOR vs. URUGUAY
(4 pm ET – beIN Sports Espanol, beIN Sports Connect | joined in progress at 5 pm ET – beIN Sports | 11/13 12:30 am ET tape delay – beIN Sports)
Most eyes might be on Argentina-Brazil, but the clash between Ecuador and Uruguay is also one worth watching. The two nations currently stand above the rest of the South American pack, and their perfect records and shutout streaks will be on the line when they meet at Estadio Olimpico in Atahualpa.
Ecuador comes into the home game having knocked off Bolivia at home and shocking Argentina as visitors, but some believe the results have been a bit of fool’s gold. La Tricolor took all three points from both 2-0 matches via goals that came in the 81st minute or later. That might speak well of a defense led by captain Walter Ayovi, but also puts the onus on the attack to find earlier goals to make for less nervy finishes.
Uruguay, meanwhile, has done plenty of convincing. After picking up a historic first road triumph over Bolivia, Los Charruas picked apart talented Colombia in a 3-0 victory. Centerback and captain Diego Godin has led the way with a pair of goals, but the other three finishes have come from a cast of role players that is once again tasked with making up for the loss of suspended striker Luis Suarez.
CHILE vs. COLOMBIA
(6:30 pm ET – beIN Sports Espanol, beIN Sports Connect | 10 pm ET – beIN Sports)
Chile’s golden generation continues to rack up results while Colombia is still trying to find its rhythm following a successful 2014 World Cup.
Chile is tied for first place on points in CONMEBOL after nabbing a pair of wins against Brazil and Peru in October, and will be aiming to move to 3-0 when it returns home to Estadio Nacional in Santiago. La Roja has played well in the first two games, and has gotten major contributions from attacking duo Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas. Sanchez and Vargas are tied for the most goals in the qualifying campaign after scoring three apiece, and they figure to once again be focal points for the reigning Copa America champions.
Sixth-placed Colombia will need to shore things up defensively after enduring a humbling 3-0 defeat to Uruguay, but also needs to sharpen up in the attack. Los Cafeteros have struggled to replicate the kind of performances that helped them reach the quarterfinals at the most recent World Cup, with playmaker James Rodriguez failing to find the same form and other attackers, like Juan Cuadrado, being inconsistent.
ARGENTINA vs. BRAZIL
(7 pm ET – beIN Sports, beIN Sports Connect | joined in progress at 8:30 pm ET – beIN Sports Espanol | 11 pm ET tape delay – beIN Sports Espanol)
The latest installment of SuperClasico is looming, and it should be a doozy regardless of the fact that superstar Leo Messi is unavailable.
Argentina and Brazil lock horns at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, and the main talking point going into the match is Neymar. The Brazilian forward is in the form of his life right now – as evidenced by his weekend wonder-goal for Barcelona – and will be hungry to help struggling O Canarinho oust Argentina after missing the first two qualifiers because of suspension.
While Brazil could certainly use the boost after going 1-1-0 in those games and sitting in fifth place, Argentina is looking for an offensive spark. La albiceleste has not only almost unthinkably failed to score through two matches without the injured Messi — who will miss this month’s qualifiers as well — but is also going to be missing Sergio Aguero and Carloz Tevez because of respective knocks.
Someone like Angel Di Maria or Gonzalo Higuain will have to step up if Argentina is to avoid an upset loss at home that would really put the pressure on head coach Gerardo Martino, and it should make for a great spectacle of a match.
PERU vs. PARAGUAY
(11/13 9:15 pm ET – beIN Sports Espanol, beIN Sports Connect | 11/14 2 pm ET tape delay – beIN Sports Espanol)
It might just be the third game of the marathon that is South America’s World Cup qualifying campaign, but already Peru is feeling the pressure.
Peru believes it has played better than its two losses have shown, and has said there is no room for error when it returns home to Estadio Nacional in Lima to play fourth-placed Paraguay on Friday. La Blanquirroja‘s manager Ricardo Gareca has plenty to consider ahead of this one, as he has to find a replacement for suspended starting midfielder Christian Cueva and also needs to determine which of the walking wounded he can count on.
Paraguay heads into the match with good confidence, but also with a need to improve in front of goal. Los Guaranies have four points from their first two matches — including one they picked up in a draw with Argentina — but scored just once over those 180 minutes. Even the solitary goal came off a late defensive gift from Venezuela, meaning Paraguay will have to hope that Seattle Sounders forward Nelson Haedo Valdez or someone else can take on the scoring load to top Peru on the road.