Uruguay vs. Argentina Betting Odds and Free Pick

This week marks the return of the South American qualifiers, featuring the Clásico del Río de La Plata, as Uruguay hosts Argentina in a showdown between the two top-placed teams.

Uruguay secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Colombia and earned a 1-1 draw against Brazil as visitors in the last double matchday.

Meanwhile, Argentina sits at the top of the standings with a five-point lead and bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Paraguay by defeating Peru 1-0.

Uruguay vs. Argentina Betting Odds and Info

Why Bet on Uruguay?

Uruguay is in a comfortable position. With 20 points, they sit in second place, seven points ahead of seventh-place Bolivia, which would go to the playoffs, and there are several teams in between. Their qualification for the 2026 World Cup is imminent, but they are in the process of rejuvenating the squad and want to solidify it before the tournament.

They are coming off a 3-2 home victory over Colombia in a thrilling match, where the Colombians equalized 2-2 in the 96th minute. However, in the final play in the 101st minute, Manuel Ugarte secured the win for Uruguay. After that, they drew 1-1 against Brazil, extending their unbeaten run to three matches.

The atmosphere around Marcelo Bielsa is not the best, despite several months passing since some players spoke out against him. However, this call-up did not spark major controversy, with the only notable omission being Gastón Martirena, who has been a standout for Racing. This was particularly surprising given that the squad included 38 players, many of whom were young and called up mainly to gain experience rather than to get playing time.

Darwin Núñez, who has been criticized at Liverpool, especially after missing a penalty against PSG in the Champions League, is Uruguay’s top scorer with five goals, just one behind the tournament’s leading scorer.

Why Bet on Argentina?

Argentina arrives as the leader of the qualifiers with 25 points after eight wins, one draw, and three losses. They have the best attack, they have 21 goals scored, and the second-best defense, conceding only seven.

Additionally, they have the top scorer of the qualifiers, Lionel Messi, who has six goals and three assists. However, Messi was not called up due to an injury that surprised everyone, as he had played and scored for Inter Miami just a day before the squad announcement.

Alongside Messi, Paulo Dybala is also out, so the number 10 jersey will likely go to Alexis Mac Allister. However, there are high expectations for Nico Paz (Como) and Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid) to showcase their talent after impressive performances at their clubs.

There are several surprises in Lionel Scaloni’s squad, with perhaps the most criticized omission being Alejandro Garnacho. Other notable absentees include Valentín Castellanos, Matías Soulé, Facundo Buonanotte, and Nehuén Pérez. Meanwhile, the call-ups of Santiago Castro and Benjamín Domínguez, both from Bologna and receiving their first senior call-up, were unexpected.

The ‘Albiceleste’ has won two of their last five matches, drawing one and losing two. This will be an important test to see how the team performs without Messi.

Final Betting Analysis: Uruguay vs. Argentina

It will be a very tight and stop-and-go match due to fouls, with two strong teams looking for the win. When Messi is absent, Argentina lacks creativity but plays more freely, which could work in their favor. However, Uruguay is very tough at home, and we believe this match will end in a draw.

The odds at Gambyl Exchange favor Uruguay, with their Moneyline set at 2.72, Argentina at 3.01, and a draw at 3.16.

The last time they faced each other was on November 16, 2023, in Buenos Aires, where Uruguay won 0-2. Meanwhile, the last time they played in Montevideo, Argentina secured a 0-1 victory.

Go for a draw in the Moneyline. If you bet $100 at 3.16, you will gain $216 for a total payout of $316.

Uruguay vs. Argentina Betting Pick: Draw