Argentina vs Venezuela Prediction: Friendly fire?

World champions Argentina topped the South American qualification table, so their international break this October contains two friendlies. First up, they face Venezuela at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (01:00, Saturday), with Lionel Scaloni having a few individual dilemmas to solve before naming his World Cup squad. 

Below you can find my Argentina vs Venezuela predictions featuring team news and more. 

Team News

Scaloni has already spoken of his desire to test out some of his fringe players, so although Lionel Messi has been included in the squad for this game at his home stadium - I wouldn’t expect him to start. He’s going to roll out of bed into training for this one, with the likes of Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono, Giuliano Simeone - Diego’s son - and Nicolas Paz all likely to be given starts.

Lautaro Rivero of River Plate could win his first cap along with Anibal Moreno of Palmeiras. It will be interesting to see how much he rotates for this friendly match - but don’t expect to see the big star.

Football Odds

Venezuela missed out on the qualifying play-off on the final day, and will now lick their wounds and prepare for the next cycle. Fernando Batista was subsequently fired from his job as head coach, along with the rest of the coaching staff, and the nation's president Nicolas Maduro called for a “restructuring” of the national team.

It’s been a pretty brutal month then, with a permanent replacement not yet named. Refreshing the squad is the next step, with 36-year-old Salomon Rondon left out of this squad along with captain Tomas Rincon. It’s the dawn of a new era for Venezuela, with uncapped teenagers Luis Balbo, Yiandro Raap and Gustavo Caraballo all being called up for the first time.

Today's Football Fixtures

Argentina vs Venezuela Odds

Argentina are priced as the 1/4 favourites to win this game with Venezuela at 11/1. A draw is 5/1, under 1.5 goals is 7/2 and BTTS is 6/5.

Lautaro Martinez is the favourite to score first at 3/1. 

Franco Mastantuono to score anytime @ 9/5

Back to the well. I don’t know exactly who is going to line up for Argentina in this game, but you have to presume it will be a mixed bag from Scaloni. He isn’t going to risk any of his big names, so I expect 18-year-old Mastantuono to get a start. 

He’s mostly featured from the right wing for Real Madrid this season, also popping up in the number 10 role - and Xabi Alonso has trusted him to start five La Liga matches this term. He’s only delivered one goal in that time, but I think he is growing as a player and could star for his nation during this international break. 

With a lack of other senior options, I think Mastantuono can step up to the plate. 

BTTS @ 6/5 

Good value for a friendly. Argentina score goals, and Venezuela enjoyed a thrilling, if heartbreaking, 6-3 home defeat to Colombia last time out - as their World Cup spot slipped through their fingers. The World Cup winners may have won 3-0 the last time these two met, but this isn’t a competitive game and so changes are bound to be rife.

That should mean goals at both ends. 

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