Argentina vs. Mexico Betting Tips: Best bets from our man Scott Thornton
Argentina face Mexico on Saturday at the World Cup and we've provided you with preview for the game along with two data-driven tips.
Argentina were on the receiving end of one of the great World Cup upsets in their first match. Saudi Arabia came from a goal behind to secure a memorable 2-1 victory and put one of the tournament favourites on the back foot in the group stage.
Messi is playing in his final World Cup and much of the pre-match narrative surrounded the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. The number 10 converted a spot kick but was largely unable to impact the game. Saudi Arabia surprised many by defending aggressively and pressing Argentina high up the field.
Mexico are also a high-energy side. They are coached by ‘Tata’ Martino, a former Barcelona and Argentina boss who had the pleasure of coaching Messi. The Mexicans like to press form the front and dominate the ball. They had 61% possession in their opening 0-0 draw against Poland. They will have a tougher time controlling the game here but expect them to brave with and without the ball.
Both of these sides are seeking their first win so 3 points will be crucial for either. Argentina were many people’s favourites to win the entire tournament. The Argentine’s came into the Saudi Arabia match on the back of a 35 match unbeaten run. It seems almost inconceivable that they would lose 2 in a row at such a vital time. But this is the World Cup and Saturday night’s clash promises to be an exciting one.
Argentina vs Mexico Tips
- Over 14.5 Tackles For Mexico & Over 34.5 Throws In The Match @ 17/20 Bet 365
- Vega Over 2.5 Shots, Over 16.5 Tackles For Mexico & Over 37.5 Throws In The Match @ 13/2 Bet 365
Mexico had 15 tackles in their opening game against Poland. As previously mentioned, Martino is a former Barcelona coach and he has all the playing principles you’d expect. He will demand his Mexico team harass the Argentine’s when out of possession.
Argentina have a number of players who like to dribble with the ball and this lends itself nicely to opposition tackles. The Saudi’s had 18 tackles in their match with the South American giants. The nature of this game should also mean we see a lot of tackles. Defeat for either side will likely see them eliminated from the tournament. Mexico have made it to the knockouts in the last 7 World Cups so don’t expect them to go down easily.
We can use the Bet 365 bet builder to combine tackles with match throws. Both of these team’s competitive matches in 2022 are averaging 36 throws per game. Their opening matches in this tournament saw even more. Argentina’s opening match saw 37 throws, while Mexico’s saw 44.
For the longer odds bet, we are going to add 3 shots for Mexico's Alexis Vega. The winger was the dangerman for Mexico in their opening match and he wasn’t afraid of letting fly. He had 5 shots in the 84 minutes he played against Poland and although the opposition are tougher this time around, he should still get an opportunity to shine.
We are also going to increase the lines from our main bet. The higher throws line landed in Mexico’s opener, while the higher tackle line landed in Argentina’s.