Brazil vs Argentina team news: Sergio Aguero dropped as Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain start against fierce rivals

BRAZIL coach Tite has persisted with a young squad as he prepares to take his team back to the scene of its greatest humiliation.

The Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte was the scene of Brazil‘s famous 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 world cup semi final.

The Selecao face Argentina, their fiercest rivals, on Thursday in a match dubbed the South American ‘Superclasico’.

Real Madrid left back Marcelo, Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho and former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho, now playing in China, are the only survivors of the Germany game expected to start.

Barcelona star Neymar was ruled out of the semi final through injury and will face club-mate Lionel Messi in an eagerly anticipated match-up.

Liverpool‘s Philippe Coutinho, who has helped fire the Reds to the top of the Premier League, starts in attack.

Here’s how Brazil line-up: Alisson; D.Alves, Miranda, Marquinhos, Marcelo; Fernandinho, Paulinho, R.Augusto; Coutinho, Neymar; G.Jesus.

For Argentina, Gonzalo Higuain is preferred to Aguero in attack, with the Napoli man tipped to partner Messi up front.

Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi join their Sky Blues team-mate in the squad, though Otamendi is the only one expected to start.

Stats

• Argentina have picked up just two points from their last three 2018 World Cup qualifiers and sit sixth in the table.
• Lionel Messi & Co have won just one of their past five competitive matches.
• Brazil have kept three clean sheets in their last four qualifying matches to help them top the group.
• Striker Gabriel Jesus is their top scorer with four goals, despite only making his full international debut in September.
• This is the 107th meeting between Brazil and Argentina.
• Brazil have a slight edge in head to head record, winning 43 matches compared to Argentina’s 38.
• The home side also have the superior recent record, with just three defeats in the last 13 Superclasicos.
• Brazil haven’t lost at home to Argentina since a 1-0 friendly defeat in 1998.
• Sergio Aguero has already scored 14 goals at club level this season, whereas Gonzalo Higuain has netted nine.
• Lionel Messi and Neymar have scored 22 goals between them for Barcelona in 2016/17.

Brazil predicted line-up:  Alisson; D.Alves, Marquinhos, Miranda, Marcelo; Fernandinho, Paulinho, Renato Augusto, Coutinho, Neymar; G.Jesus.

Argentina team:

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