Match: Argentina v Paraguay
Date: 11 October, Tuesday
Time: 7:30am SGT (Wednesday)/5am IST (Wednesday)/12:30am BST (Wednesday)
Venue: Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, Cordoba
Competition: 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier
TV Coverage: In Singapore, the TV coverage of the clash between Argentina and Paraguay will be on Eleven Sports Singapore.
Overview
Argentina host Paraguay in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier game at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba on 11 October.
The hosts find themselves in a tricky position in the group after failing to get full three points in their last two clashes. After a 1-0 win against Uruguay, in which Lionel Messi struck the only goal, the La Albiceleste have played out draws against Venezuela and Peru to see themselves slip to the fifth spot in the South American group.
Absence of regulars Lucas Biglia and Augusto Fernandez and Messi has made it difficult for the hosts. However, they are only three points behind leaders Uruguay ahead of Tuesday's game.
Edgardo Bauza's side will also miss the services of defenders Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi and Ramiro Funes Mori for the game against Paraguay. Doubts remain over the availability of injured striker Sergio Aguero as well.
Despite being taken off in the second half of his side's 2-2 draw against Peru on Thursday with a calf injury, Aguero has insisted he will be available to face Paraguay.
"You always want to play in the national team and try to do the best. Within five minutes of the second half against Peru I began to feel the tiredness on the calf. The coach noticed it and took me off," Aguero was quoted as saying by the Sky Sports.
"But I am quite well now: you get physical fitness playing, not training. Bauza has the decision - I'll be available for Tuesday."
Bauza might as well not take the risk of fielding his star striker, who has been in imperious goal-scoring form for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. Angel Correa will be the likely candidate to replace Aguero in the line-up.
On the other hand, Paraguay come into the match on the back of 1-0 defeat against Colombia. Coach Francisco Arce, who started his stint with the national team with a 1-0 win over Chile, saw his side facing a 4-0 thrashing against table-toppers Uruguay last month.
Arce's side, who are currently placed sixth in the group behind Argentina, needs to come up with a strong show against the hosts to keep themselves in the hunt.
TV Schedule
Argentina: TyC Sports
Paraguay: SNT Paraguay
Singapore: Eleven Sports Singapore
Malaysia: Astro SuperSport 3
India: Sony ESPN
Bangladesh: Sony ESPN
Bhutan: Sony ESPN
US: beIN Sports
Team News
Argentina
Possible XI: Romero, Mateo Musacchio, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Mercado, Marcos Rojo; Ever Banega, Javier Mascherano; Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Gaitan, Gonzalo Higuain
Paraguay
Possible XI: Edgar Barreto, Jorge Moreira, Gustavo Gomez, Paulo da Silva, Salustiano Candia; Jorge Rojas, Cristian Riveros, Victor Ayala, Oscar Romero; Edgar Benitez, Lazcano
