Argentina continue planning for the post-Lionel Messi era when they face Bolivia in an international friendly in Cordoba in the early hours of Thursday.
The 39-year-old will feature for the Albiceleste one last time when they host Benin on 6th October, but before that, they take on Bolivia and then Burkina Faso.
Lionel Scaloni is approaching the almost impossible task of moulding his side without arguably the greatest player of all time to call upon, but La Verde might be good opponents to make a first attempt against.
They have lost their last four games, scoring only once in the process and with head coach Oscar Villegas prioritising youth in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Paraguay, they face another difficult assignment in Cordoba.
Argentina v Bolivia Tips Summary
Best Bet - Argentina and over 3.5 Goals @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez to score first @ 13/8
Bet Builder - Half with Most Goals - 2nd Half, Alexis Mac Allister to score & Both Teams to Receive a Card @ 11/1
Argentina v Bolivia Prediction
Best Bet - Argentina and over 3.5 Goals @ 5/6
Argentina might be without their iconic captain, but they hardly lack alternative attacking talent and should blow Bolivia away.
La Verde lost 2-1 to Iraq in the final round of World Cup qualifying before going down 4-0 to both Scotland and Algeria in pre-tournament friendlies.
A 2-0 defeat to a Paraguay side that offered little in attack over the summer hints that Villegas has work to do and Argentina, who take the field for the first time since the World Cup final, should cruise it in Cordoba.
They have won nine of the last 10 meetings, most recently recording a 6-0 qualifying victory in October 2024.
Scaloni will set his side up to attack as he tries out new offensive approaches. However, after beating Algeria and Australia to nil, his team conceded in their next six World Cup games, including Ferran Torres' extra-time winner for Spain in the final.
Whether Bolivia can score is uncertain, but there should still be goals at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.
Alternative Bet - Either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez to score first @ 13/8
The Albiceleste have potential attacking midfielders to take over from Messi and it's unclear how their forward line will be formed.
Strikers Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are both candidates to start, and each scored in the aforementioned 2024 victory.
Alvarez, born an hour or so from Cordoba in Calchin, has had a tough time after his longed-for summer move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona failed to materialise, and he still hasn't scored for his club this season, so getting away might be no bad thing.
Martinez scored braces against Napoli and Roma to keep Inter's fast start to Serie A going and is another candidate to open the scoring, with five of his last six international goals being either the first or last in a match.
Argentina v Bolivia Bet Builder Tip
Half with Most Goals - 2nd Half
Alexis Mac Allister to score
Both Teams to Receive a Card
Pays @ 11/1
Nine of Argentina's last 10 games have featured under 1.5 first-half goals, so there might be more action after the break, with Alexis Mac Allister expected to be involved.
The midfielder has already scored twice for Liverpool this season and, with the Albiceleste missing other key playmakers due to suspension, he is expected to start.
Mac Allister received 12 yellow cards for club and country last season and has already picked up two cautions in 2026/27.
Argentina are always feisty, and with Bolivia picking up two bookings against Paraguay, it is worth backing both teams to receive a card.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Argentina have won nine of their last 10 meetings against Bolivia
Bolivia have lost their last four games
Of Lautaro Martinez's last six international goals, five have either been the first or last in the game
Both Martinez and Julian Alvarez scored when Argentina beat Bolivia 6-0 in October 2024
There has been one or fewer first-half goals in nine of Argentina's last 10 matches
Alexis Mac Allister has scored twice for Liverpool this season
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
