Comments and predictions for Argentina vs Brazil: Messi is helpless

Latest Argentina vs Brazil team information

Argentina will have to continue without their greatest ever scorer, with Lionel Messi absent from this call-up due to a groin injury sustained in his last appearance for Inter Miami.

Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) and Paulo Dybala (Roma) are also absent due to injury. Nico Gonzalez is also suspended after receiving a red card in the final minutes of the victory over Uruguay.

Rodrigo De Paul was not in top form for the Montevideo game and has been rested to ensure he is fit for the crucial game against Brazil. If De Paul is fit to start on Tuesday, Roma's Leandro Paredes is likely to return to the bench.

As for Brazil, they entered this international series without goalkeeper Ederson and striker Neymar, both of whom were absent due to injury.

Alisson Becker (Liverpool) and Gerson (Flamengo) have withdrawn from the squad after being forced off in Thursday's win over Colombia.

Bento is likely to make his third international start in place of Alisson, while Andre could start in midfield in place of Gerson.

Brazil's defense and midfield also have forced changes as defender Leo Ortiz and midfielder Joelinton are likely to start in place of Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes – two players who are suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the match against Colombia.

Latest expected lineup for Argentina vs Brazil

Argentina:
Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister; Simeone, Fernandez, Almada; Alvarez

Brazil:
Bento; Vanderson, Marquinhos, Ortiz, Arana; Joelinton, Andre, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Vinicius; Pedro

Latest football commentary Argentina vs Brazil

Argentina have not officially qualified for next year's World Cup, but their place is all but assured after a hard-fought win over Uruguay on Friday, despite missing the injured Lionel Messi.

Thiago Almada, currently on loan at Lyon from Botafogo, scored a second-half wonder goal in Montevideo to secure a narrow 1-0 win – his third for his country – and end Argentina's three-game winless run away from home in World Cup qualifying.

Argentina currently lead the South American zone by three points. After 13 matches, they have won 9, drawn 1 and lost 3, scoring 22 goals and conceding just 7.

The 2022 World Cup champions will turn all their attention to Tuesday's big clash with arch-rivals Brazil, with Argentina currently on a four-match unbeaten run against their opponents (W3 D1).

This impressive record includes a 1-0 win in the first leg in November 2023, when Nicolas Otamendi scored the winning goal at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

La Albiceleste have every reason to be confident as they have won seven of their last eight home World Cup qualifiers (losing one), while also keeping a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 home qualifiers.

Brazil made a slow start to their qualifying campaign – winning just one, drawing one and losing four of their first six games – but are now on track to maintain their historic 100% World Cup finals attendance record.

The Selecao have gradually become a tougher opponent to beat, having gone on a five-match unbeaten run, including two consecutive wins against Chile and Peru in the October training camp.

They then drew with Venezuela and Uruguay in November, before finding the winning touch again in a dramatic clash with Colombia on Thursday.

It looked like they would have a third consecutive 1-1 draw, after Luis Diaz equalised after Raphinha's penalty opener, but Vinicius Junior suddenly shone with a long-range strike in the 99th minute to secure all three points - Brazil's latest goal in qualifying since Casemiro's strike against Colombia at the 2021 Copa America.

Brazil are currently ranked third with 21 points after 13 matches, creating an 8-point gap with Bolivia - the team in the intercontinental play-off position.

However, the Selecao’s away form is worrying, as they have won just one of their last five away games (D1 L3). This makes the task of beating Argentina – something they have not done since their 2-0 win in the 2019 Copa America semi-final – more difficult than ever.

Latest Argentina vs Brazil score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Argentina vs Brazilas follows:

• Sportsmole:Argentina 2-1 Brazil

• WhoScore:Argentina 1-1 Brazil
• Our newspaper predicts:Argentina 1-1 Brazil

When and where to watch Argentina vs Brazil live?

To watch live the Argentina vs Brazil match in the World Cup qualifiers taking place at 7:00 a.m. on March 26, viewers can watch onK+ Sport,K+PMor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.