No Messi, Argentina aim to end the qualifiers on a high against Ecuador | OneFootball

With an alternate eleven and without the Flea, the Scaloneta visits the team led by Beccacece.

The Argentinian National Team faces its final presentation in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup this Tuesday. From 8 PM, the team of Lionel Scaloni visits Ecuador at the Monumental Banco Pichincha Stadium in Guayaquil, with Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán.

The national team arrives with qualification assured and the first place guaranteed in the table with 38 points, product of 12 victories, 2 draws, and 3 losses. In their last presentation, the Albiceleste won 2-0 against Venezuela at the Monumental, in what was the farewell of Lionel Messi from official matches in Argentina. The captain did not travel to Guayaquil as he agreed with the coaching staff to focus on his preparation with Inter Miami: “I'm coming from an injury, I'm fine, but we prefer to avoid another match and prepare for what's coming”, he explained.

How the Scaloneta arrives

For this match, Scaloni prepares several changes in the starting eleven. In defense, the suspension of Cristian Romero opens the door to Leonardo Balerdi, who will accompany Nicolás Otamendi. On the sides, Nicolás Tagliafico would remain, while Gonzalo Montiel fights for a place with Nahuel Molina.

In midfield, the return of Alexis Mac Allister is expected, alongside Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul, while in attack there will be movements: the absence of Messi and the departure of Franco Mastantuono would give place to Nicolás Paz, with Lautaro Martínez confirmed and the doubt between Julián Álvarez or Giuliano Simeone. Nicolás González, who had a good entry against Venezuela, is also a candidate to start from the beginning.

The present of Ecuador

The team of Sebastián Beccacece arrives with 26 points and occupies the fourth place in the table. In their last date, they drew 0-0 against Paraguay in Asunción. For this duel, they will have the return of Alan Franco after suspension and with Moisés Caicedo already recovered.

The goalkeeper will be Hernán Galíndez, while in defense appear Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapié in the center, with Pervis Estupiñán on the left and the doubt between Joel Ordoñez or Ángelo Preciado on the right. In offense, Enner Valencia and Kevin Rodríguez will form the attacking duo, accompanied by Gonzalo Plata and one between Nilson Angulo or John Yeboah.

Record

Argentina carries a streak of eight matches without losing against Ecuador, with six victories and two draws. The last victory of the Tri dates back to October 2015, at the start of the Qualifiers for Russia 2018. In the general record, they faced 41 times, with 24 victories for the Albiceleste, 12 draws and only 5 Ecuadorian victories.

Probable lineups

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister or Exequiel Palacios; Nicolás Paz, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez or Giuliano Simeone and Nicolás González. DT: Lionel Scaloni.

Ecuador: Hernán Galíndez; Joel Ordoñez or Ángelo Preciado, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié, Pervis Estupiñán; Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, John Yeboah or Nilson Angulo; Kevin Rodríguez and Enner Valencia. DT: Sebastián Beccacece.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.