Argentina vs Colombia – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | WCQ 2022

Rodrigo de Paul of Argentina
Rodrigo de Paul of Argentina / IMAGO

Colombia will continue their quest for a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they travel to Colombia to face Argentina in the 16th Round of their qualifiers. 

Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes (Cordoba)

Key Statistics

Argentina are unbeaten in 18 WCQ matches (W10, D8).

They have kept seven clean sheets from their last nine games in all competitions.  

The hosts have failed to score only once in the last five games.

Colombia have won just one of their last seven games (D4, L2).

The visitors have failed to score in six of their last seven games.

They are winless in their last five away games in all competitions (D3, L2). 

Head to head

Both sides have met 41 times in the past. Argentina have won 24 of those games while Colombia have won nine times. There have been eight draws between the two sides. 

Latest performances in all competitions

Argentina: W-D-W-W-W

Colombia: L-W-D-L-D

Argentina

Argentina will look to continue their unbeaten run in the current World Cup qualifiers when they welcome Colombia to Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

The ‘Albiceleste’ have already secured qualification for the November tournament, having won nine of their opening 14 games (D5). They come into this game sitting second in their group, four points behind their rivals Brazil.

The hosts welcome Colombia to Cordoba on the back of a 2-1 win over Chile. Goals from Ángel di María and Lautaro Martinez secured the win for the hosts in a keenly contested game in Calama that saw the hosts score through Ben Brereton.

The win extended Argentina’s WCQ unbeaten run to 18 matches (W10, D8) and also stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 28 games.

With their place in the group stages already booked, Lionel Scaloni’s side are now aiming to finish top of the group and will be desperate to win this game to keep that possibility alive.

Possible Argentina starting line-ups

Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna; Angel Di Maria, Giovanni Lo Celso, Guido Rodriguez, Lucas Ocampos; Lautaro Martinez, Angel Correa.

Injured: None 

Doubtful: Alexis Mac Allister

Suspended: Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo de Paul, Leandro Paredes

Colombia

Colombia, meanwhile, are still hoping to book their place in the World Cup, having won just three of their opening 15 games (D8, L40. 

In their last outing, they come into this tie on the back of a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Peru. In an entertaining affair at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez that saw Colombia control more of the ball, Peru stole the show thanks to an 85th-minute goal by Edison Flores, leaving Reinaldo Rueda’s men to regret their missed opportunities. 

The loss means that the hosts are currently sitting in sixth, three points behind Peru in fourth and two behind Uruguay, who are occupying the playoffs spot.

Their hopes of at least finishing in the inter-continental playoffs remain alive, but they will have to win this game to avoid seeing that chance disappear.

They will, however, be boosted by an outstanding record against Argentina in recent times. The ‘Tricolors’ are unbeaten against the ‘Albiceleste’ in their last four H2Hs – inside 90 minutes at least (W1, D3). 

However, the hosts are without a WCQ goal in six matches (D4, L2), leaving their chances of winning this game hanging in the balance. 

Possible starting line-up

David Ospina; Juan Cuadrado, William Tesillo, Davidson Sanchez, Johan Mojica; James Rodriguez, Wilmar Barrios, Mateus Uribe, Luis Diaz; Radamel Falcao, Miguel Borja.

Injured: None 

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: Yerry Mina

Prediction 

Argentina 2-1 Colombia