Argentina vs Bolivia Prediction, Match Preview & Betting Tips

Argentina takes on Bolivia on 16 October 2024 in a crucial World Cup Qualification CONMEBOL encounter at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium in Buenos Aires. This fixture marks the 10th round of an 18-round campaign, with Argentina leading the table with 19 points and Bolivia in the qualifying zone with 12 points.

Both teams are keen to solidify their standings. Argentina, who drew against Venezuela recently, seeks to maintain their pole position. Bolivia, despite recent impressive wins, faces the challenge of playing at sea level and being without key midfielder Héctor Cuéllar.

Argentina is heavily favored to win, and recommended bets include Argentina -2.50 (Asian Handicap), reflecting their strength. Lionel Messi, having returned from injury, alongside Julian Alvarez, is key for Argentina, while Miguel Terceros is a focal point for Bolivia.

Argentina vs Bolivia Prediction & Betting Tip

The recommended betting tip for this match is Argentina -2.50 (Asian Handicap). This recommendation stems from Argentina’s better home form, their position at the top of the table, and Bolivia’s recent struggles away from home.

Argentina vs Bolivia Prediction

Argentina vs. Bolivia Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Argentina -2.50 (Asian Handicap)	1.68

• Argentina is heavily favored to win, supported by impressive stats and recent form.
• Home advantage will likely play a significant role, lifting Argentina’s performance.
• Bolivia has struggled recently and tends to concede late goals, favoring a high margin win for Argentina.

Argentina vs Bolivia Odds

Argentina vs. Bolivia Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Argentina	1.05
Draw	13.46
Bolivia	31.12

Argentina are the bookmakers’ clear favorites for this encounter, with extremely short odds of 1.05 for a home win. This reflects their dominance at the top of the CONMEBOL qualifiers with 19 points. A draw is priced at 13.46, indicating a level of improbability, while Bolivia pulling off a win is considered highly unlikely, set at staggering odds of 31.12. Punters expecting a comfortable win might look at the recommended bet, Argentina -2.50 (Asian Handicap) at odds of 1.68.

Argentina Team Analysis

Argentina have had a mixed recent run in their World Cup qualifiers, showing moments of brilliance alongside stumbles.

Home team	Away team	Result
Venezuela	Argentina	1-1 (Draw)
Colombia	Argentina	2-1 (Loss)
Argentina	Chile	3-0 (Win)
Argentina	Colombia	1-0 (Win)
Argentina	Canada	2-0 (Win)

Argentina Key Players

Lionel Messi continues to be Argentina’s standout performer, leading as the top scorer with three goals in the qualifiers. His partnership with Julian Alvarez in attack promises to be pivotal in breaking down Bolivia’s defense.
In midfield, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are crucial for their playmaking abilities and control in the center of the park.
Defensively, Nicolas Otamendi remains a rock at the back, providing stability and experience. Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli will again step in for the suspended Dibu Martínez, aiming to keep another clean sheet.

Expected lineup for Argentina:

• Goalkeeper: Geronimo Rulli
• Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico
• Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Giovani Lo Celso, Rodrigo De Paul
• Attackers: Julian Alvarez, Thiago Almada, Lionel Messi

Argentina Suspensions & Injuries

Argentina heads into the match against Bolivia with a few significant injuries that could impact their lineup and performance:

Player	Injury	Expected return
Juan Foyth	Knee injury	Late October 2024
Nicolas Gonzalez	Thigh injury	Late October 2024
Alexis Mac Allister	Groin injury	Early November 2024
Paulo Dybala	Muscle injury	Late October 2024
Marcos Acuna	Knock injury	A few weeks
Alejandro Garnacho	Knee injury	Late October 2024

While no players are suspended for Argentina, the absence of these key players limits their options, especially in attack and defence. The team will rely heavily on the depth of their squad, with players like Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada stepping up to fill the gaps left by injured teammates.

Argentina Tactics and Formation

Argentina Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: Expected to employ a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Lionel Scaloni returning to a familiar setup to maximize the team’s strengths.
• Key Forward: Lionel Messi, Argentina’s top scorer with 3 goals, will spearhead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez.
• Midfield Trio: Enzo Fernandez, Giovani Lo Celso, and Rodrigo De Paul are expected to provide creativity and stability in midfield.
• Defensive Strength: With three clean sheets in the last five games, the defense led by Nicolas Otamendi and German Pezzella has been solid.
• Notable Strategy: Strong performances in the 76-90-minute interval, aiming to capitalize on opponents’ fatigue in the closing stages of the match. Scaloni will look to maintain possession and disrupt Bolivia’s rhythm while exploiting their defense with Messi’s dribbling and Alvarez’s finishing skills.

Bolivia Team Analysis

Bolivia has had a mixed bag of results in their recent matches, recording three wins and two losses. Their recent form looks like this: WWWLL. Despite their inconsistent form, they have secured some crucial victories. Bolivia has maintained a decent scoring rate, averaging 1.60 goals per game in their last five matches. They have also managed two clean sheets, indicating some solid defensive performances. Here’s a closer look at their last five results:

Home team	Away team	Result
Bolivia	Colombia	1-0 (Win)
Chile	Bolivia	1-2 (Win)
Bolivia	Venezuela	4-0 (Win)
Bolivia	Panama	1-3 (Loss)
Uruguay	Bolivia	5-0 (Loss)

Bolivia Key Players

Expected lineup for Bolivia:

• Goalkeeper: Guillermo Viscarra
• Defenders: Jose Sagredo, Luis Haquin, Marcelo Suarez, Diego Medina
• Midfielders: Robson Matheus, Hector Cuellar, Ramiro Vaca
• Attackers: Carmelo Algaranaz, Jeyson Chura, Miguel Terceros

Miguel Terceros, who tops Bolivia’s scoring chart with 3 goals, will be their main threat going forward. Ramiro Vaca’s creativity in midfield will be crucial for Bolivia to unlock Argentina’s defense. In defense, Luis Haquin needs to be at his best to counter the prowess of Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez. Key battles to watch: Terceros vs. Otamendi and Vaca vs. De Paul.

Bolivia Suspensions & Injuries

Bolivia head into the clash against Argentina without any suspensions or injuries, which will undoubtedly boost their confidence. Having a full squad available allows the head coach to field his best XI and ensures vital depth on the bench to adapt to any game situation. In high-stakes matches like World Cup qualifiers, the ability to deploy a fully fit roster can make a noticeable difference, especially for teams like Bolivia aiming to defy the odds against the favourites. This clean bill of health will be essential as they look to mitigate Argentina’s attacking prowess and potentially exploit any opportunities that arise on the counter-attack.

Bolivia Tactics and Formation

Bolivia’s Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-3
• Key Forward: Miguel Terceros
• Wide Midfielders: Robson Matheus and Hector Cuellar
• Defensive Core: Luis Haquin, Marcelo Suarez, and Diego Medina
• Notable Strategy: Effective scoring in the 76-90 minute interval

Bolivia’s recent matches show a preference for flexible formations, ranging from 3-4-3 to 5-2-3, reflecting their adaptability based on the opponent. Their strategy often hinges on a central defence and a fluid midfield that can transition quickly to attack. With two clean sheets in their last five games, their defensive work will aim to stifle Argentina while exploiting late-game scoring opportunities. Expect Bolivia to focus on counter-attacks and defensive solidity, hoping to catch the home team off-guard.

Argentina vs Bolivia Head-to-Head Statistics

Argentina and Bolivia have a rich history of matches against each other. Here’s a look at their last five meetings:

Home	Away	Result
Bolivia	Argentina	0-3
Argentina	Bolivia	3-0
Bolivia	Argentina	1-4
Bolivia	Argentina	1-2
Bolivia	Argentina	2-0

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