Argentina v Chile Betting: Back home win in vital match

Argentina will be desperate for victory when they welcome Chile to El Monumental for Thursday's high profile South American World Cup qualifier.

Currently sitting outside the automatic qualification spots in fifth position with six games to go,  Edgardo Bauza's team are available at 4/9 (1.44) with bet365 to leapfrog their guests into the top four with an important win in Buenos Aires.

Having come out on top in each of the last two Copa America finals against this opposition, La Roja are priced at 13/2 (7.50) to come back to haunt them once again by inflicting a damaging defeat here.

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Both of those victories were recorded on penalties after a deadlocked 120 minutes, and you can get odds of 16/5 (4.20) on the sides cancelling each other out yet again in this one.

After taking over from Gerardo Martino following that Copa America defeat, it is fair to say that Bauza is yet to convince, winning two, drawing two and losing two of his six fixtures in charge.

However, the 59-year-old did oversee his best game in the dugout last time out, a 3-0 victory over Colombia that came just five days after a humbling 3-0 defeat in Brazil.

With difficult away trips to Bolivia and Uruguay coming up next, the Albiceleste boss will be hoping to see more of the same in a potentially crucial clash against a visiting side missing the suspended Arturo Vidal and sweating on the fitness of Alexis Sanchez.

Goal

Potentially without both of their two star men, it is difficult to see Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men causing too many problems for the motivated home team considering they have lost three and won just one of their last five away qualifiers.

Considering Chile have failed to score in three of those five matches and Argentina have conceded just one goal in their last four home games, odds of 6/5 (2.20) seem generous on Lionel Messi and co. winning by at least two goals in a vital encounter against their weakened opponents.