The Copa América (CA) group stage opens with two of the CONMEBOL top-four facing off. Ranked just one place above their opponents, Argentina has lost just two of 13 prior CA H2Hs (W9, D2, L2) though each of the last two H2Hs has ended 0-0.
Without a draw in seven matches since their last encounter with Colombia (W5, L2), Argentina like to strike late. ‘La Albiceleste’ scored a winning goal after the 80th minute in each victory in that sequence, and overall, 40% of Argentina’s goals arrived in the final ten minutes.
Colombia, meanwhile, have failed to score in 496 minutes of football against Argentina. Moreover, Colombia coach Carlos Quieroz’ only prior engagement with Argentina (as Iran boss) was settled only by a 91st-minute goal in the 2014 World Cup group stage.
In their last CA campaign, Colombia scored exactly two goals in each of their three group matches (W2, L1), with five of the six strikes across those games coming before half-time. More recently, four of their last six goals in their warm-up games arrived before the interval.
GROUP : B
- ARGENTINA
- PARAGUAY
- COLUMBIA
- QATAR
Players to watch: Lionel Messi was at the double before half-time in Argentina’s final warm-up match.
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe scored either side of half-time to secure victory in their final warm-up match. He has been booked in two of his last three appearances (club & country).
Stat attack: Five of Argentina’s last six victories were by at least a two-goal margin.
Four of the last seven H2Hs have ended goalless, with six of the last eight seeing under 1.5 total match goals (all games).
Both sides have averaged over 20 booking points per match across the last six H2Hs, with Colombia the worst offenders at 3.33 cards per H2H match on average.
Will not play
Battaglia R.
(Knee Injury)
Izquierdo J.
(Knee Injury)
Match Information
Referee: Tobar Vargas R. (Chi),
Venue: Arena Fonte Nova (Salvador)
Live streaming here :
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