Argentina vs. Uruguay: Post-Messi Era Begins in Friendly at La Bombonera
Argentina hosts Uruguay on Friday at 20.00 local time at the Alberto J. Armando stadium, known as La Bombonera, for the 198th edition of the Clásico del Río de la Plata. TyC Sports broadcasts the international friendly live via its YouTube channel and television network.
The match marks the official start of the post-Lionel Messi era for the Albiceleste. Lionel Scaloni enters the fixture with his team placed as the reigning world runners-up and two-time Copa América champions, heading into the penultimate fixture of the calendar year ahead of a Tuesday match against Costa Rica in Córdoba.
Scaloni Shapes New Squad Without Veterans
Scaloni assembled a 28-player roster featuring several fresh faces while missing key veterans. Cristian Romero, Lautaro Martínez, and Nicolás González sit out due to injuries, while Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso received no call-ups. The coaching staff also excluded Boca Juniors players due to ongoing Copa Sudamericana and Copa Argentina commitments.
New inclusions feature defenders Aarón Anselmino and Mariano Troilo, alongside the return of Gonzalo Montiel. Emiliano Martínez participated in training following a jaw fracture, though his immediate starting status remains uncertain. Leonardo Balerdi likely starts at central defender in place of the injured Romero, while young prospects Nicolás Paz and Gianluca Prestianni feature prominently in attacking roles.
Forlan Leads Rebuilding Uruguay Side
Uruguay arrives in Buenos Aires under interim manager Diego Forlán following a group stage elimination at the 2026 World Cup and Marcelo Bielsa’s departure. Forlán takes charge for his second set of international fixtures before the Uruguayan Football Association elects new leadership in March. The interim coach recalled Federico Valverde, Nicolás de la Cruz, and Agustín Canobbio to complete his squad.
Forlán addressed reporters ahead of the fixture regarding the intensity of the regional rivalry. “Son partidos que, por más amistosos que sean, tienen una rivalidad con mucha historia. Tanto para nosotros como para ellos, enfrentarnos es un desafío lindo entre buenos jugadores y buenas selecciones,” Forlán said.
The Uruguay coach also discussed deploying the versatile Valverde, saying that the coaching staff evaluates how best to utilize the Real Madrid midfielder’s positional flexibility across the pitch.
Argentina Leads Head-To-Head Record Against Uruguay
The historical head-to-head record across 197 previous encounters favors Argentina with 92 victories, compared to 58 wins for Uruguay and 46 draws. The most recent meeting at La Bombonera ended in a 2-0 victory for Uruguay during 2023 World Cup qualifiers, with goals from Ronald Araújo and Darwin Núñez.
The match kicks off at 20.00 on Friday under an unannounced referee. Viewers can access television coverage through TyC Sports or stream the broadcast via the network’s official YouTube channel, which includes pre-match analysis and minute-by-minute updates.
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