Argentina Vs Venezuela match preview
Overall
Qualification hasn’t exactly gone swimmingly for Messi & Co. Wednesday’s hosts are currently in the play-off spot, although a win here could easily take them into the top four. Considering that Venezuela have no hope of making it to Russia, and have generally been the weakest team in South American qualifying, this really is a massive opportunity for Jorge Sampaoli’s men to secure the win.
In the betting, given Venezuela’s struggles away from home, it’s easy to see why the Argentines are strong favourites. In all honesty, they’re expected to win and win well. The bet that stands out is ‘Argentina -2.5 Asian Handicap’.
During this campaign, playing on the road, has yielded next to no joy for this Venezuelan team; they’re without a win away from home and have managed to pick up just a single point from seven matches. Defensively, things have gone awry in almost every match – conceding no less than 20 goals – while they’ve offered little at the other end in scoring just six goals during that time. Additionally, the visitors have conceded at least three goals in six of their seven away matches during qualifying so it’s not hard at all to imagine them getting torn apart by an Argentina side who’re in good form on home soil.
The Argentinians may well have failed to fire last time out (away from home), but they come into this match having played well in their last two home matches, beating two strong sides in Chile and Columbia. Sampaoli’s men managed a clean sheet in both of those, while the fact that they managed to score three against Columbia is a clear positive. Such form bodes well and so it really would be a surprise if they weren’t able to run riot against a poor side who’ve got little to play for.
Head to Head
Argentina have a promising recent record in this fixture having won three of the last five renewals. Venezuela have won just once during that time. When these two last met, back in 2016, they could be not separated at 2-2.
Prediction
Argentina win or Over 2.5 goals.
