Argentina vs Saudi Arabia, Worldcup 2022 GROUP STAGE
Overview
Match Preview
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia — Worldcup at Lusail Iconic Stadium.
- Argentina 3 games · 9 pts (2026/26)
- Saudi Arabia 3 games · 2 pts (2026/26)
Match Details
- Referee Bastian Dankert
- Referee Slavko Vincic
- Referee Tomaz Klancnik
- Referee Andraz Kovacic
- Referee Pol van Boekel
- Referee Maguette N'Diaye (Senegal)
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Czechia | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Canada | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Qatar | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | Brazil | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Morocco | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Scotland | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Haiti | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Australia | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Paraguay | 3 | 4 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Germany | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Ecuador | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Curaçao | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | Netherlands | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | Japan | 3 | 5 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 4 |
| 24 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Belgium | 3 | 5 |
| 26 | Egypt | 3 | 5 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 3 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 |
| 29 | Spain | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 3 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 |
| 33 | France | 3 | 9 |
| 34 | Norway | 3 | 6 |
| 35 | Senegal | 3 | 3 |
| 36 | Iraq | 3 | 0 |
| 37 | Argentina | 3 | 9 |
| 38 | Austria | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Algeria | 3 | 4 |
| 40 | Jordan | 3 | 0 |
| 41 | Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| 43 | Congo DR | 3 | 4 |
| 44 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | England | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Croatia | 3 | 6 |
| 47 | Ghana | 3 | 4 |
| 48 | Panama | 3 | 0 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
Season Stats
| Argentina | Saudi Arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| #37 | Position | #32 |
| 9 | Points | 2 |
| 3 | Played | 3 |
| 3 / 0 / 0 | W / D / L | 0 / 2 / 1 |
| 8 | Scored | 1 |
| 1 | Conceded | 5 |
| +7 | GD | -4 |
| 3.00 | PPG | 0.67 |
| 100% | Win % | 0% |
Key Stats
100%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (1 games)
H2H (1 games)
100%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
25%
Clean Sheets
Argentina this season
Argentina this season
33%
Clean Sheets
Saudi Arabia this season
Saudi Arabia this season
Argentina are 37th (9 pts). Saudi Arabia are 32nd (2 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Argentina
0-15
1/1
16-30
3/–
31-45
2/–
46-60
1/3
61-75
–/2
76+
12/2
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Saudi Arabia
0-15
–/1
16-30
–/2
31-45
1/–
46-60
–/–
61-75
–/–
76+
–/1
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Argentina
| Lionel Messi | 8 G | 4 A |
| Lautaro Martinez | 3 G | 1 A |
Events
Match Events
- 0' The ball is rolling at Lusail Iconic Stadium. Argentina are looking to make home advantage count against Saudi Arabia.
- 5' Argentina international Nicolas Tagliafico has been a key figure this campaign — 0 goals and 0 assists in the Array this season.
- 10' A goal from the Argentina international Lionel Messi! He fires home on 10 to make it 1-0!
- 15' Saudi Arabia have won 8 goals from 10 games. They will be desperate to add to that tally today.
- 20' Saudi Arabia are keeping things exceptionally tight at the back. It will take something special to break them down.
- 25' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
- 28' What composure from Lautaro Martinez! The Argentina international strokes it home. 2-0.
- 33' Both keepers have barely been tested. Argentina and Saudi Arabia are cancelling each other out in the centre of the park.
- 38' Argentina is defending very well tonight not leaving a chance for their rivals to get through for a goal.
- 43' Not even hints on scoring a goal over the last 43 minutes.
- 45' Nawaf Al-Abid is ready to make an impact after coming on for Salman Al-Faraj at the 45 minute mark.
- 49' GOAL! Saleh Al-Shehri scores on 49.
- 53' A goal from the Saudi Arabia international Salem Al-Dawsari! He fires home on 53 to make it 2-2!
- 54' Clinical. Composed. Brilliant. Salem Al-Dawsari makes it 2-3.
- 59' Another change for Argentina made on 59 minute. Christian Romero leaves to be changed by Lisandro Martinez.
- 60' Julian Alvarez is ready to make an impact after coming on for Alejandro Gomez at the 60 minute mark.
- 65' It looks like no one’s ball. Saudi Arabia is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
- 67' Saudi Arabia player sees a Yellow card in front of him.
- 71' Nicolas Tagliafico makes way for Marcos Acuna at the 71 minute mark. A tactical switch from Argentina.
- 75' It’s a booking for Saudi Arabia player. Ali Al-Boleahi gets a Yellow card.
- 78' Sultan Al Ghanam gets the nod from Saudi Arabia. He replaces Saleh Al-Shehri and will look to change the dynamic.
- 80' Controversy at the stadium! Salem Al-Dawsari argues furiously but the Yellow card stands.
- 82' Poor challenge from Saud Abdulhamid. The referee spots it immediately and shows the Yellow card.
- 87' Neither side is committing men forward. This has all the hallmarks of a tense, tactical contest.
- 88' That looks like a foul for a Yellow card for Nawaf Al-Abid.
- 89' Nawaf Al-Abid makes way for Abdulelah Al Amri at the 89 minute mark. A tactical switch from Saudi Arabia.
- 90' Mohammed Al Burayk is ready to make an impact after coming on for Yasir Al Shahrani at the 90 minute mark.
- 90' A moment of madness from Mohammed Al Owais on 90 minutes earns him a Yellow card. Saudi Arabia will be frustrated.
- What a match! Full time at {STADIUM} — Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia.
Lineups
Argentina Lineups
Starting XI
- 23
- 19
- 3
- 11
- 10
- 17
- 22
- 7
- 5
- 13
- 26
Bench
- 2
- 12
- 15
- 21
- 6
-
8
Marcos Acuna ↑ 71'
- 1
- 14
- 4
- 20
-
25
Lisandro Martinez ↑ 59'
- 16
-
9
Julian Alvarez ↑ 59'
-
24
Enzo Fernandez ↑ 59'
- 18
Coach
Lionel Scaloni
Saudi Arabia Lineups
Starting XI
- 21
- 12
- 5
- 13
-
7
Salman Al-Faraj ↓ Nawaf Al-Abid 45'
- 8
- 23
- 10
- 11
- 9
- 17
Bench
- 1
- 3
- 4
-
6
Mohammed Al Burayk ↑ 90'
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 20
- 24
- 26
-
25
Haitham Asiri ↑ 89'
- 19
-
18
Nawaf Al-Abid ↑ 45'
-
2
Sultan Al Ghanam ↑ 78'
- 22
Coach
Hervé Renard
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Salem Al-Dawsari | 2 |
| Saleh Al-Shehri | 1 |
| Lionel Messi | 1 |
| Lautaro Martinez | 1 |
Head to Head
Argentina Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
3 / 4
2.54
Argentina xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.81
Saudi Arabia xG
I would bet for:
Over 2.5 goals 64% + Argentina to win 63%
Match Result
✗ WrongActual: Saudi Arabia win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 3.35
Actual: Yes — both scored
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 95% |
|
5% |
| ± 1.5 | 84% |
|
16% |
| ± 2.5 | 64% |
|
36% |
| ± 3.5 | 42% |
|
58% |
| ± 4.5 | 25% |
|
75% |
Double Chance
Argentina or Draw
84%
Draw or Saudi Arabia
37%
Argentina or Saudi Arabia
79%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Argentina win at HT
Correct Score
✗ 1–2 not predicted1 – 2Actual
2 – 0
11.3%
3 – 0
9.3%
2 – 1
8.9%
1 – 0
8.7%
1 – 1
7.9%
3 – 1
7.5%
4 – 0
5.8%
0 – 0
4.9%
4 – 1
4.8%
2 – 2
3.6%
3 – 2
3.1%
5 – 0
3%
Asian Handicap — Argentina
| Handicap | Argentina covers | Push | Saudi Arabia covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 31% | — | 69% |
| -2 | 31% | 21% | 48% |
| -1.5 | 52% | — | 48% |
| -1 | 52% | 21% | 27% |
| -0.5 | 73% | — | 27% |
| +0.5 | 91% | — | 9% |
| +1 | 91% | 6% | 3% |
| +1.5 | 97% | — | 3% |
| +2 | 97% | 2% | 1% |
| +2.5 | 99% | — | 1% |
Clean Sheet
Argentina keeps clean sheet
45%
✓
Saudi Arabia keeps clean sheet
9%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.