Argentina forward Lionel Messi. (Photo : Getty Images)
Last year's Copa America champions Chile (2-1-1, 7 points) will clash with powerhouse squad Argentina (1-1-2, 5 points) at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, Chile on March 24th, Thursday in a high-profile matchday 5 game of the 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament for CONMEBOL.
Chile has been on a downward spiral in the tournament so far, winning their first two games against Brazil, 2-0, and Peru, 4-3, before settling for a 1-1 versus Colombia in matchday 3.
La Roja dropped an embarrassing 0-3 game to Uruguay at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay in their most recent outing in the competitions on Nov. 17th of last year to cap the downward trend of their matches, as per Goal.
Juan Antonio Pizzi's boys were not able to score a goal against a still Luis Suárez-less Los Charrúas side while allowing three goals to be scored on Chile team captain and Barça goalkeeper Claudio Bravo's net.
Center back Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid, wingback Alvaro Pereira, and defender Martin Caceres contributed the three goals for the FIFA world no. 11-ranked La Celeste at the 23rd, 61st, and 65th minutes of the match respectively.
Meanwhile, Argentina is reportedly welcoming back five-time Ballon d'Or awardee Lionel Messi in their side after missing the first four matchdays of the tourney.
La Albiceleste has been struggling to keep in form in the qualifiers so far, dropping a 0-2 opener to Ecuador, settling for a goalless draw with Paraguay in matchday 2, and another draw, this time 1-1, with FIFA world no. 6-ranked squad Brazil in matchday 3.
In their most recent outing, Gerardo Martino's men finally won one without Messi, a 1-0 victory over Colombia on the road at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla last Nov. 17th, as reported by ESPN.
Veteran defender Lucas Biglia of Italian Serie A club SS Lazio netted the eventual winner early at the 19th minute of the match for the Argentinians as both teams went scoreless the rest of the way.
The predicted result is a 3-1 victory for Argentina with Messi around.
Chile starting lineup (4-1-2-1-2 formation): Bravo; Mena, Jara, Medel, Isla; Diaz; Gonzalez, Vidal; Beausejour; Sanchez, Vargas
Argentina starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Romero; Rojo, Funes Mori, Otamendi, Mercado; Mascherano, Biglia; Di Maria, Banega, Messi; Higuaín
