Argentina vs Mexico: Martinez can make amends for Saudi upset
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World Cup 2022: Argentina vs Mexico odds, preview and tips
Argentina remain one of the favourites to win the World Cup despite suffering one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history on Tuesday which blew Group C wide open.
Their 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia means they are in grave danger of missing out on the knockout stage, so only a win will suffice against Mexico, who started their campaign with a goalless draw against Poland.
Ladbrokes have priced the Argentina winning odds at 3/5 to pick up three points on Saturday, with the Mexicans 5/1 and the draw 27/10.
Argentina vs Mexico form
La Albiceleste went into the World Cup on a 36-match unbeaten run and having conceded just twice in their last 15 games, so it was understandable they were second favourites to lift the World Cup trophy for a third time.
The South Americans had three goals ruled out for offside in a dominant first half but only had a Lionel Messi penalty to show for their efforts at the break and the game was turned on its head with two excellent goals inside six minutes early in the second half.
The Green Falcons produced some incredible defending to keep Lionel Scaloni’s side at bay in the final half an hour, so it’s not as if Argentina did not have chances and Mexico are unlikely to play with such a high line like the Saudis.
Argentina have an excellent record against the Mexicans in the last 17 years and so we fancy the 1986 winners to secure victory and over 1.5 match goals at evens in the World Cup odds.
Mexico had Guillermo Ochoa to thank for keeping the score level on Tuesday night when the 37-year-old keeper, appearing in his fifth finals, saved a second-half penalty from Robert Lewandowski in a largely drab Group C game which saw the Poles happy to sit deep and break on the counter-attack.
El Tri coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino admitted his approach to the game against his native Argentina changed completely after Saudi Arabia’s shock win, so Mexico may decide to sit deep and launch counter-attacks when they get the chance.
Argentina vs Mexico head to head
Argentina have won eight and drawn one of their last nine encounters with Mexico and the last three since November 2018 came without them conceding a goal.
Mexico lacked a cutting edge against the Poles and even brought on Raul Jimenez for the last 20 minutes despite the Wolves striker not playing a single minute in almost three months.
Argentina are 27/20 to win to nil for a fourth successive time against Mexico in the World Cup betting and are 6/4 to be ahead at half-time and full-time as they were in the last four meetings.
Two of the last three were 2-0 victories which is 11/2 in our Argentina vs Mexico betting tips, while a 1-0 lead at the break is 6/4, although we like the 7/2 on Lautaro Martinez to outscore the opposition.
The Inter Milan striker scored a hat-trick against the same opponents in their last encounter three years ago and he was unlucky to have a goal controversially ruled out for offside against the Saudis.
Argentina vs Mexico team news
Argentina defender Cristian Romero was hauled off after an hour and he could pay the price for Tuesday’s defeat and be replaced by Lisandro Martinez in a 4-4-2 formation.
Former Tottenham defender Juan Foyth, now with Villarreal, could start at right-back in place of Nahuel Molina.
Although Jimenez came on in the second half, the Wolves striker is likely to be on the bench again, with Henry Martin leading the attack supported by Hirving Lozano and Ernesto Vega.
Goalscorer odds
Messi opened the scoring with a controversial penalty against Saudi Arabia and also had an effort chalked off for offside.
The PSG attacker has scored an incredible 11 goals in his last five internationals and is 11/4 to break the deadlock or 11/10 to score in our Argentina v Mexico betting tips.
Martinez looks a better option in our view at 4/1 and 9/5, while Julian Alvarez is 2/1 to get on the scoresheet.
Angel Di Maria did not have a great game on Tuesday but is 13/2 and 11/4 in the two markets.
Jimenez is the favourite from the Mexico contingent to net the game’s first goal, but Lozano looks a better call at 9/1 and 7/2.
Match Info
Where: Lusail Stadium
When: 19:00, Saturday 26th November
How to watch: ITV
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
