Bolivia VS Argentina Match Prediction

In 38 matches, Argentina have 27 wins to just six for Bolivia.  They've drawn five times as well.  Here are the results from the last five meetings:

Jun 14, 2016: Argentina 3-0 Bolivia (Copa America)
Mar 29, 2016: Argentina 2-0 Bolivia (Qualifiers)
Sep 4, 2015: Argentina 7-0 Bolivia (Friendly)
Jun 6, 2015: Argentina 5-0 Bolivia (Friendly)
Mar 26, 2013: Bolivia 1-1 Argentina (Qualifiers)

%HEAD-TO-HEAD-STATS-BANNER%

Bolivia vs Argentina Prediction

Argentina were beaten badly here, then they drew, so it seems logical that they'd win this time, right?  It won't be pretty, but they will get it done this time.

Correct Score Prediction: Bolivia 2-3 Argentina

Bolivia vs Argentina Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Bolivia are at 10/3 to win, a draw is at 5/2, and an Argentina win is at 5/6.

Both teams to score is at 4/5 for yes and 19/20 for no.

A 1-0 win for Bolivia at full time could bring you 18/1 odds if correct.

Reason: The bookmakers are going with Argentina here because they have a dominant record in their duels with Bolivia and because they have a much stronger squad full of very good players.

Team News

Argentine manager Angel Guillermo Hoyes knows that his side have a decent history at home to Argentina, and he knows that they have a chance to upset the apple cart here by getting a result against them.  His side, which is almost exclusively based in Bolivia, will have a huge advantage when it comes to fitness and preparedness.  He will have to count on that here.

Key Man

31 year old winger Juan Carlos Arce, a man that can also play striker, will be a very important player when these two sides meet.  Arce is one of the players in this Bolivian side that has true quality to his game, but it's going to be that paired with his fitness that tests out that Argentine side.  Arce has scored nine times in 50 caps for Bolivia, and he plays his football for a side called Bolivar.  So he will be ready for the test of going up and down the wing.  Will his opponents be?

Team Form

Bolivia have three losses, one win, and one draw in their last five qualifiers.  On Thursday, they went to Colombia and only lost 1-0 to a late goal from James Rodriguez.

Expected Line-up: 4-5-1 

Team News

Edgardo Bauza was unable to field Paulo Dybala against Chile, and he will likely be without the Juventus man yet again here.  The question for Bauza is going to be whether to play his best players that just played, at high elevation, or go with fresh bodies that aren't quite as skilled?  It's a big question that might impact the outcome.  

Key Man

At high atmosphere, the man to watch is going to be in the midfield.  Lucas Biglia, a man that has been a late bloomer in football but is now showing his best for Argentina and Lazio, is going to be very important.  His role is to patrol up and down the pitch and then give good passes to Messi.  Biglia acts as a shield and a platform to build off of, which is very different from what most defensive midfielders are asked to do.  Because of this, he will be a vital part of this match.  If he's winded, Argentina will have a very tough time scraping out the three points.  

Team Form

Argentina have two wins, two losses, and one draw in the last five qualifiers they've played.  They won 1-0 over Chile at home on Thursday to boost their hopes of qualification.  

Expected Line-up: 4-2-3-1

This most talent is easily on the side of Argentina here, but many matches played in the Bolivian capital do not go the way of the most talented side. Bolivia have made the World Cup just one time since 1950, and they haven\'t gotten all that close since they made it in 1994. But they do have a history of causing severe problems for Argentina in La Paz. In 2009, Argentina lost 6-1 there. Last cycle, they managed a 1-1 draw. A draw is never a terrible result in this climate, but Argentina do need the three points. If they can muster the energy, they will win it. But if not, they could be down for a disaster.

11,913: the number of feet above sea level that the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz sits at. This has been a huge advantage for Bolivia down the years, and it is often their only hope of gaining points from qualifiers.