Argentina v Paraguay: Goals could be at a premium in this semi final

With the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria in their ranks you would have expected to see a few classics involving Argentina at this year’s Copa America.

But with just one of their four matches so far featuring more than a solitary goal it has been a case of simply getting the job done for Tata Martino’s men to date.

Having required penalties to see off an ultra-defensive Colombia in the quarter finals, Messi and co. will need to show similar determination against Paraguay.

The sides have already met in this tournament, La Albiceleste looking well in control at 2-0 up until throwing away the win late on.

Their recent inability to see out matches in 90 minutes could see them made to work against Los Guaranies again, with the 4/9 on an Argentinean victory in normal time looking very skinny.

The Ramon Diaz-managed Paraguayans have only lost two of their last 13 matches in major tournaments, the final of this competition in 2011 and a World Cup quarter final against Spain in 2010 and will prove a tough nut to crack.

They reached this stage after taking a Neymar-less Brazil to penalties before triumphing 4-3 from the spot and will be buoyed by a scalp such as that.

While the quality of the favourites should be enough to see them through to a final against Chile eventually, we are not expecting a goal fest or a rout for the two-time winners.

Indeed it might be a case of going all the way to extra time and penalties for Argentina en route to the final.

With all the stats that matter and the pick of the bets for this second semi final here’s the man that matters, The Professor…

DID YOU KNOW?

Argentina have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last eight competitive games, with all seven of these matches having Under 1.5 goals

Five of Paraguay’s last seven games had Under 2.5 goals

Paraguay have drawn 10 of their last 13 competitive games

Sergio Aguero has scored six goals in Argentina’s last six matches.

Argentina have only won three of their last eight competitive matches, drawing five of these games

Top bets: Under 1.5 goals at 11/5 or Sergio Aguero to score and Argentina to win 1-0 at 14/1

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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