Argentina Seeks Bounce-Back Victory as Peru Eyes a Tough Challenge
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, fresh off a surprising 2-1 loss to Paraguay, will look to reassert their dominance in South American World Cup qualifiers when they host Peru on Tuesday night. While Argentina remains top of the standings, Peru faces an uphill battle as they cling to slim hopes of resurgence in the group.
Match Preview
Argentina’s loss to Paraguay marked their third defeat in this qualifying campaign, a rare occurrence for the reigning world champions. Despite Lautaro Martinez giving Argentina an early lead, they were unable to maintain control, allowing Paraguay to clinch a 2-1 victory.
This setback still leaves Argentina atop the group with 22 points from 11 matches (seven wins, one draw, three losses). Lionel Messi’s six goals have been instrumental in their qualifying journey, and the team remains a favorite for the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni’s men now aim to end 2024 on a high before facing tougher opponents like Uruguay and Brazil next year.
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Historically, Argentina holds a strong record against Peru, boasting 37 wins from 58 encounters. They have won the last four meetings between the two nations, further solidifying their position as heavy favorites.
Peru, on the other hand, is languishing in ninth place with just seven points. Their last outing—a goalless draw against bottom-placed Chile—highlighted their persistent scoring struggles, with only three goals in 11 matches.
While Peru’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay last month offered a glimmer of hope, their subsequent 4-0 thrashing by Brazil underscored the challenges they face. The team hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 2018 and will need a near-miraculous turnaround to climb the standings.
Team News
Argentina:
Lionel Scaloni faces defensive concerns with Cristian Romero sidelined due to a foot injury and Lisandro Martinez unavailable due to a hip/back issue. Leonardo Balerdi is expected to partner Nicolas Otamendi in central defense.
Lionel Messi, playing his 191st international match, will lead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho is likely to remain on the bench despite Argentina’s attacking depth.
Predicted XI:
E Martinez; Molina, Balerdi, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez; Messi, Mac Allister, Alvarez; L Martinez
Peru:
Coach Jorge Fossati is expected to field an unchanged lineup from the draw against Chile. Paolo Guerrero’s fitness will be assessed, but the 40-year-old legend could once again feature in the attack alongside Alex Valera. Luis Advincula is set to play a pivotal role on the wing, while Sergio Pena will anchor the midfield.
Predicted XI:
Caceda; Corzo, Araujo, Callens; Polo, Sonne, Cartagena, Pena, Advincula; Guerrero, Valera
Prediction
Peru’s goal-scoring drought remains their Achilles’ heel, and Argentina’s quality in attack is likely to prove too much for the visitors. While it may not be a goal-fest, the world champions are expected to secure a comfortable win to close out their year.
Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Peru
