48′ Argentina must start brightly in the second half or risk growing more and more frustrated. Paraguay are defending resolutely after the restart, continuing to suffocate the Albiceleste attack.
46′ Argentina get the match underway from the kick-off!
46′ A change at half sees Argentina commit to the attack, with Aguero replacing Pereyra.
It’s going to take herculean strength both physically and mentally to overturn this lead, as Argentina seem to constantly find themselves in this position. With Colombia already qualified, Scaloni must make drastic changes to get his side back into the contest. With the likes of Di Maria, Aguero and Dybala on the bench, he has all the firepower he needs. Berrizo will be ecstatic with the 45 minutes despite losing his captain, as the score plays perfectly into his tactical set-up.
A poor first half in terms of quality comes to an end as Paraguay enter the interval up by a score of 1-0. Argentina looked the side in the ascendancy in the opening 10 minutes, but they left too much space at the back one too many times, as Berrizo’s counter-attacking side finally took full advantage through the electric Almiron – who came into the match as it progressed. Argentina did not respond well to going a goal down, with Messi’s shot from a free-kick the only one of the evening for the Albiceleste.
45′ + 4′ HALF-TIME: ARGENTINA 0-1 PARAGUAY.
45′ + 3′ Play is stopped as Gomez is stretchered off after falling awkwardly immediately proceeding an aerial clash with both Otamendi and Tagliafico. It doesn’t look promising for the centre-back who has defended dutifully in the first half.
45′ + 1′ The fourth official indicates three additional minutes at the end of the half for stoppages.
F. Armani
Yellow Card
45′ Messi takes the free-kick deep in the half towards the far post, but it’s too close to the goalkeeper who makes an easy catch. On the counter-attack, Armani travels well out of his goal to boot it out of his half, but he makes a horrible mistake and is forced to foul Gonzalez and earn a yellow card. More reckless defending from Argentina!
R. Rojas
Yellow Card
43′ Rodrigo Rojas is booked late in the half for a reckless sliding challenge on Paredes.
41′ Paraguay look to clear their lines as Argentina pour forward on another attack, and get somewhat lucky as a booted clearance catches Messi’s arm – forcing the referee to award a free-kick against the captain.
39′ How will the Argentina XI respond to a shocking 1-0 deficit? The Albiceleste fans in the stadium are voicing their displeasure quite clearly, which can’t be of any help to the side on the pitch.
M. Almirón
Assist
37′ Almiron’s run was absolutely breathtaking; charging down the left flank, getting the better of both Pereyra and Casco in the process. His pass was of equal quality – a very worthy assist for the opening goal!
R. Sánchez
Goal
37′ PARAGUAY HAVE SCORED TO MAKE IT 1-0! An absolutely scintillating run from Newcastle forward Almiron takes him to the byline, where he pulls it back to the top of the penalty area for Sanchez to scuff into the back of the net! The shot is slightly mishit – but he won’t care!
34′ Messi scoops his free-kick towards the left of the goal, but it’s struck with a surprising lack of power as Fernandez walks over to his post to make an easy catch.
G. Gómez
Yellow Card
32′ Gomez, captain of the Paraguay side, is booked for pushing Martinez in the back as the forward was turned to receive a pass. Argentina have a free-kick just outside the penalty area with a shade over 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
30′ Matias Rojas swings a corner into the penalty area where Gomez gets a flick-on towards the edge of the six-yard box. Alonso is in the correct position, but he flaps at the chance as he sends it wide by some margin.
28′ ALMOST A GOAL FOR PARAGUAY! Gonzalez bursts down the right flank after a wonderful pass from Matias Rojas and breaks into the penalty area, slowing down slightly before hitting a shot to the far post which is blocked narrowly wide by Tagliafico! It’s the first real change of the match!
26′ Argentina have been lacklustre in the opening 30 minutes, failing to register a shot of any sort. They seem lax after what appeared to be a wakeup call in their last match against Colombia, but Paraguay have not been put under enough pressure.
24′ Messi floats a free-kick into the penalty area but Santander does his defensive duties and rises highest to nod it out of the box. Argentina maintain possession, but the initial danger has passed comfortably.
22′ Paraguay hold possession in their own half before another long pass from the left flank goes into the penalty area searching for Santander. Otamendi gets an awkward flick to it which loops the ball over the goalkeeper’s head, but Armani has enough space behind him to track back and pick it out of the air.
20′ Messi dances through three defenders as he steams ahead towards the penalty area, but the fourth man on the scene wins the ball and dispossesses the Argentina captain. He appeals for a foul as there appeared to be contact, but the referee waives it away immediately.
18′ Matias Rojas tries to make inroads with a long pass down the left channel for the chest of Santander, but the striker is unable to bring it under is control as it rolls through for Armani.
16′ Gonzalez has come back onto the pitch which is good to see after the clash seemed to do considerable harm.
15′ An Argentina attack comes to an end as Messi’s high boot, raised to control a flicked Lo Celso pass inside the penalty area, catches the head of Gomez who needs a moment to gather himself before the free-kick can be taken.
13′ After bringing the stretcher out, it appears as though the Paraguay international is able to walk off under his own power. Berrizo has called for a substitute to warm up just in case, but for the moment we resume play.
11′ Gonzalez is down after a clash of heads with Tagliafico where the Paraguay winger seems to have taken the majority of the damage. He’s bleeding considerably from the left side of his head, forcing the medial staff on to attend to him.
9′ The first 10 minutes have been attack against defence as Paraguay look in some difficulty keeping the ball. Most passes seem to be hit long, which allows Argentina to recover much easier.
7′ Paraguay are looking to get it over the top to Santander at every opportunity, but the powerful striker has had little luck so far knocking it down for his team-mates. Otamendi looks in control at every aerial duel.
5′ Lo Celso pours forward but his pass to the left is too late, as De Paul is tightly marked near the corner flag. The square pass into the penalty area is intercepted and cleared immediately, but Argentina gather possession again.
3′ Argentina have started the brighter of the two sides, pushing the whole side forward into Paraguay’s half. The pressure tells early as De Paul is dragged down for a free-kick well outside the penalty area.
1′ Paraguay get the match underway from the kick-off in Belo Horizonte!
A quick reminder of the standings as we head into the clash at The Mineirao: Colombia lead the group with six points after two matches, while Paraguay sit second with a point after one game. Qatar’s earlier 1-0 loss to Colombia means they are in third with a draw in two matches – and Argentina round out the quartet without a point after one fixture played.
Paraguay make six changes from their last fixture – a 2-2 draw with Qatar. Piris and Gomez replace Valdez and Balbuena at right and centre-back respectively, while Gonzalez and Sanchez replace Ortiz and Perez in midfield. Berizzo also makes alterations in attack, where Matias Rojas and Santander get the start ahead of Dominguez and Cardozo.
Argentina make four changes from the XI that lost 2-0 to Colombia on Saturday. Casco gets the nod over Saravia at right-back and a midfield shakeup sees Rodriguez and Di Maria dropped for De Paul and Pereyra. The final switch is in the attacking third sees Aguero lose his place to Martinez.
PARAGUAY SUBS: Hernan Perez, Ivan Torres, Fabian Balbuena, Antony Silva, Juan Escobar, Oscar Romero, Celso Ortiz, Juan Uribe, Cecilio Dominguez, Bruno Valdez, Oscar Cardozo, Alfredo Aguilar.
PARAGUAY XI (4-4-1-1): Roberto Fernandez; Ivan Piris, Gustavo Gomez, Junior Alonso, Santiago Arzamendia; Derlis Gonzalez, Richard Sanchez, Rodrigo Rojas, Matias Rojas; Miguel Almiron; Federico Santander.
ARGENTINA SUBS: Angel Di Maria, Ramiro Funes Mori, Marcos Acuna, Renzo Saravia, Sergio Aguero, Juan Foyth, Guido Rodriguez, Guido Pizarro, Juan Musso, Matias Suarez, Augustin Marchesin, Paulo Dybala.
ARGENTINA XI (4-4-2): Franco Armani; Nicolas Tagliafico, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Milton Casco; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Roberto Pereyra; Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, it’s time to take a look at how the two sides will be lining up, starting with Argentina!
Eduardo Berizzo brings his side to The Mineirao in Belo Horizonte after a somewhat disappointing 2-2 draw with invitees Qatar in their opening group stage match – despite holding a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining. The Paraguay defence has been shaky of late, conceding 7 in their last four matches, If the side anchored by Junior Alonso can start brightly at the back, however, Argentina will likely get increasingly frustrated in a hostile atmosphere, which should help their cause.
Desperate times call for desperate measures as Argentina look to bounce back after an awful performance in a 2-0 defeat to Colombia in their opener. La Albiceleste have their backs up against the wall, in last place after Paraguay’s draw with Qatar in matchday one. It looks as though lessons from the 2018 World Cup haven’t been learned by the side now managed by one-time assistant Lionel Scaloni. Despite the coach only bringing less than half of the squad that attended the Russia World Cup, Messi and company find themselves in a similar position. If Argentina are to win their first title in 26 years, they’ll have to get going against Paraguay.
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Copa America Group B fixture between Argentina and Paraguay!
S. Agüero
R. Pereyra