Bolivia vs Argentina prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-09-11 20:00.
The fixture computer couldnât have thrown up a much tougher opening to this World Cup Qualification (WCQ) cycle for Bolivia than a pair of games against Brazil and reigning world champions Argentina! The Bolivians lost the first of those games 5-1 against Brazil and now must try to avoid another comprehensive humbling against Argentina, but nine goals conceded across the previous three H2Hs suggests itâs a real possibility.
A pair of defeats against the most influential South American footballing nations certainly wouldnât be fatal, but Bolivia can stand themselves in better stead to qualify for a first World Cup since â94 if they can spring a surprise. They proved theyâre capable of that by toppling Argentina in 2018 WCQ (2-0), and with five unbeaten games across their previous seven in WCQ home action, they may well make this tricky (W4, D1, L2).
That 2017-held H2H was in fact Argentinaâs last defeat in a WCQ setting, putting together a fantastic 22-game unbeaten run in such games since (W13, D9). That dominant run in WCQ has been built on very solid foundations too, with La Albiceleste keeping clean sheets in nine of their last 11 games in WCQ action (W8, D3), culminating in their opening round 1-0 victory over Ecuador.
While Argentinaâs rock-solid backline must be respected, theyâre certainly not infallible on their travels, as Lionel Scaloniâs men possess just a 43% win-rate across their last 14 WCQ away games (W6, D6, L2). Argentina conceded at least twice in over a third of those games, including one game against Bolivia, but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule with an average of just 0.88 conceded goals per-match in the all-time H2H stakes (W29, D5, L7).
Players to watch: Bolivian captain Marcelo Moreno was the only man to hit double figures (G10) in the previous WCQ cycle and he may well get going here with five of his last 15 scoring WCQ appearances coming against Argentina! Trying to outdo him could be JuliĂĄn Ălvarez, with the Manchester City man scoring in the 31st minute in two of his last three club games.
Hot streak: Argentina havenât conceded before half-time since defeat to Saudi Arabia in November 2022 (W11 since).