Brazil 3 Argentina 0: Philippe Coutinho and Neymar on target as Samba stars defeat arch rivals in World Cup 2018 qualifier
Brazil cruised to a comfortable victory in Belo Horizonte to leave Argentina in danger of missing out on World Cup qualification
BRAZIL brushed aside their arch rivals Argentina in Belo Horizonte to leave Lionel Messi and Co in danger of missing out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
Neymar won the battle with his Barcelona team-mate Messi as Brazil ran out comfortable winners in Belo Horizonte on Thursday night.
The result left Argentina outside the top four places, which earn automatic qualification for the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Messi and Co have seven games left to save their campaign, but they'll have to be a lot better than they were against their biggest rivals.
Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring with a trademark stunning strike in the 25th minute.
The Liverpool star collected the ball on the left flank and cut inside Javier Mascherano and Nicolas Otamendi before hammering home into the far corner from 20 yards, leaving goalkeeper Sergio Romero with no chance.
Things got even worse for the visitors just before the interval as they were carved open by a beautiful pass from Gabriel Jesus to find Neymar, and the Barcelona striker coolly slotted home his team's second.
Former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho ended any Argentine hopes of a comeback just before the hour mark when he stabbed home Dani Alves' low cross from the right hand side.
It sealed Brazil's seventh win in 11 games to take them back to the top of the South American table after Uruguay's win over Ecuador earlier.
Messi's men will be looking for a quick response when they take on Colombia on Tuesday after a night to forget.
Brazil coach Tite set out to make Messi uncomfortable and said: "We forced our way into the Argentina half more to the left so Messi wouldn't be immediately near the ball, since he was on the right.
"When he was forced to move it became better for us because that other side was already crowded."
And the boss praised Neymar's defensive abilities as well as his attacking qualities.
He added: "One of the biggest lies in football is that if you mark you will not have the energy to do well upfront. That is not the case."
Meanwhile, Messi demanded immediate and significant change from his team-mates if they are to reach the World Cup.
He said: "We can't repeat what we have been doing because that won't work. We have to change a lot."