Giovani Lo Celso scored in the first half, leading Argentina to a controlled 1-0 victory over CONMEBOL rivals Venezuela in a friendly match held in Miami on Friday.
Lautaro Martinez delivered an exceptional performance, assisting the only goal. Argentina registered 11 shots on target out of 19 attempts while maintaining 69% possession.
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Lionel Messi returned to the Argentina squad as the reigning world champions prepared for future competitions, though he did not play in this match. His club teammate Rodrigo De Paul made a substitute appearance.
Star performer Nico Paz showcased his skills during the match, along with Nicolas Gonzalez, who came off the bench. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister also played, alongside Cristian Romero from Spurs and Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa.
Argentina will face Puerto Rico in Chicago at 7 pm ET on Monday evening.
How to Watch Argentina vs Venezuela Live, Streaming Link, and Start Time
Kickoff Time: 8 pm ET, Friday (Oct. 10)
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami, Florida
TV Channel/Streaming: beIN Sports
Final Score: Argentina vs Venezuela 1-0
Goal: Giovani Lo Celso (31′)
Halftime — Argentina 1-0 Venezuela
La Vinotinto will be pleased to go into the break just one goal down.
Goal by Giovani Lo Celso — Argentina 1-0 Venezuela
The former Tottenham star found the net in the 31st minute, set up by Lautaro Martinez, giving Argentina a well-deserved lead.
Argentina Dominating, Yet Goal-Scoring Lacking
La Albiceleste controlled the match with nearly 75% possession and converted three out of four shots on target.
Nico Paz displayed a lively presence, and Argentina felt they were on the verge of extending their lead.
Argentina Lineup
E. Martinez, Molina, Romero, Senesi, Tagliafico, Paz, Paredes, Fernandez, Lo Celso, Alvarez, L. Martinez.
Venezuela Lineup
Contreras, Ferraresi, Milani, Aramburu, Quintero, Mendoza, Casseres, Marques, Segovia, Anor, Andrade.
Argentina Team News
OUT: Thiago Almada (muscular injury), Exequiel Palacios (not in squad), Angel Correa (not in squad).
Venezuela Team News
OUT: Salomon Rondon (not in squad), Josef Martinez (not in squad), Tomas Rincon (not in squad), Yeferson Soteldo (not in squad), Jefferson Savarino (not in squad), Wuilker Fariñez (not in squad), Alexander Gonzalez (not in squad).
Prediction for Argentina vs Venezuela
Argentina previously secured a 3-0 win against Venezuela in September, showcasing another outstanding performance from Messi. He’s still a dominant force on the field, even internationally. Expect a similar outcome: Argentina 2-0 Venezuela.