Argentina vs Venezuela: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview La Albiceleste host their fellow South American rivals in Madrid as they step up preparations for the Copa America later this year Argentina’s prospective new dawn under Lionel Scaloni will be handed a boost when they return to international duty as they welcome back the prodigal son Lionel Messi. The Barcelona man has not played for his country since their elimination from the 2018 World Cup in Russia after eventual champions France saw them off in a 4-3 thriller. However, with his sensational club form suggesting that the 31-year-old is back to his best, he will hand his side a significant advantage when they face Venezuela at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid . Article continues below Rafael Dudamel will be looking to give his side a boost ahead of their Copa America campaign later in the year and knows that an upset against one of the favourites would boost their confidence and standing ahead of the tournament. Game Argentina vs Venezuela Date Friday, March 22 Time 8:00pm GMT / 4:00pm ET Stream (US) fubo TV (7-day free trial) TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) . New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser. US TV channel Online stream beIN SPORTS fubo TV (7-day free trial) In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will not be broadcast or livestreamed. UK TV channel Online stream N/A N/A Squads & Team News Position Argentina squad Goalkeepers Marchesín, Armani, Andrada, Musso Defenders Mercado, Acuna, Tagliafico, Pezzella, Kannemann, Saravia, Foyth, Lisandro Martinez, Montiel Midfielders Di Maria, Pereyra, Lo Celso, Paredes, Lazani, De Paul, Rodriguez, Blanco, Marcone, Zaracho Forwards Messi, Dybala, Correa, Lautaro Martinez, Benedetto, Gonzalo Martinez, Suarez Lionel Messi’s return to the international fold remains the headline for Argentina’s otherwise rather inexperienced squad, with the Barcelona man having more caps combined than every other attacker and midfielder combined, save for Angel Di Maria. Lionel Scaloni’s decision to leave Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero out of the running points to a prospective changing of the guard across the team, with 13 members of their World Cup preliminary squad not called up since the exit in Russia. Argentina starting XI: Armani; Montiel, Foyth, Mercado, Martinez, Tagliafico, Lo Celso, Paredes, Messi, L. Martinez, G. Martinez Position Venezuela squad Goalkeepers Farinez, Romo Defenders Rosales, Gonzales, Chancellor, Mago, Osorio, Hernandez, Ferraresi, Villanueva Midfielders Rincon, Seijas, Figuera, Murillo, Machis, Juanpi, Moreno, Herrera, Cordova, Soteldo Forwards Rondon, Martinez, Aristeguieta, Cadiz, Hurtado With one eye likely turned to the Copa America later this year, where they will face off with hosts Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, Rafael Dudamel will likely look to firm up his selections in his final international break beforehand . With no Wilker Angel or Bernardo Anor in contention after missing out however, there will at least be changes from the side who previously drew with Iran in November. Potential Venezuela starting XI: Farinez; Hernandez, Rosales, Chancellor, Osorio; Herrera, Rincon, Moreno, Cordova, Machis; Martinez. Betting & Match Odds Argentina are the odds-on favourites at 2/7 to prevail with bet365 , while a draw is available at 4/1. A win for Venezuela is priced at 10/1. Click here to see all of bet 365's offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more. Match Preview With only one defeat to their name since their eviction at the hands of France from last year’s World Cup in Russia, Argentina look to be back on track under Lionel Scaloni. The 40-year-old took charge following their elimination after his nation failed to emulate their run to the final achieved at Brazil 2014, prompting the departure of manager Jorge Sampaoli. Save for a narrow loss to Brazil, La Albiceleste have gone unbeaten since, with victories over Guatemala, Iraq and a double against Mexico. If there is any concerns about Scaloni’s tenure so far, it is that his side have been unable to overcome their bigger rivals in his short period in charge, including the Selecao and a draw with Colombia. He will hope to put any issues to bed however with an emphatic result against Venezuela in Madrid – and he is bolstered by the return of arguably the greatest player in world football to boot. After sitting out the rest of 2018 in apparent self-exile following his performances in Russia, Lionel Messi is back to his best at club level, firing Barcelona to what looks to be assured domestic success in La Liga as well as potential European glory in the Champions League. In a squad still filled with relatively inexperienced international players, as Scaloni opts to prune many of his veteran players, the 31-year-old brings a wealth of skill and leadership that could just be the tonic needed on the field. Much like his opposite number, Venezuela boss Rafael Dudamel will have an eye on the Copa America, particularly with his nation draw in the arguable group of death, Group A. They will tangle with hosts Brazil as well as last year’s World Cup finalists Peru and Bolivia to boot. One player likely to make the bench who could prove decisive is Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon, whose promising domestic form has helped haul his side free of near-certain relegation.<doc-sep>Lionel Messi’s return to the Argentina side ended in a shock 3-1 friendly defeat to Venezuela in Madrid on Friday. Messi had not played for the national team since its last-16 elimination by eventual winners France at the 2018 World Cup – a tournament for which Venezuela finished bottom of South American qualifying. But it was Rafael Dudamel's men who stole the show at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Salomon Rondon and Jhon Murillo firing them into a 2-0 lead in the first half. Lautaro Martinez pulled one back for Argentina after the interval but this was a poor showing from Lionel Scaloni's side, whose fate was sealed by a Josef Martinez penalty 15 minutes from time. Venezuela took its unexpected lead when a ball over the top from Roberto Rosales was brilliantly brought down and prodded home by a composed Rondon after only six minutes. Wuilker Farinez produced a spectacular save to keep out a close-range Lautaro Martinez header on the half-hour mark. Messi had delivered the cross for Lautaro Martinez's headed effort and witnessed Farinez's talents first-hand when his strike from the edge of the box was tipped over the crossbar by the goalkeeper. Venezuela took its unexpected lead when a ball over the top from Roberto Rosales was brilliantly brought down and prodded home by a composed Salomon Rondon (Right) after only six minutes. - AFP Darwin Machis and Rondon squandered opportunities before Murillo deservedly doubled Venezuela's advantage, capitalising on a quickly taken free-kick to curl a wonderful effort beyond the reach of Franco Armani from 18 yards. When Argentina's response arrived, it happened in the blink of an eye. A rapid counter-attack involving Messi ended with Giovani Lo Celso playing a perfect pass into the path of Lautaro Martinez, who made no mistake with a cool finish. Argentina piled on the pressure in pursuit of an equaliser but was fortunate to avoid giving away a penalty when Machis went down under the challenge of Leandro Paredes. RELATED | Ronaldo falls flat on Portugal comeback Venezuela did get its spot-kick in the 75th minute after Juan Foyth clumsily brought down substitute Josef Martinez, who sent Armani the wrong way with a peculiar penalty routine, running up and leaping into the air before striking the ball. What does it mean? Messi's miserable return This outing will have done little to convince Messi that he has made the correct decision to end a self-imposed international exile that saw him miss six matches. There were plenty of positive contributions from the Barcelona star, but his team were found wanting in Madrid. Argentina misses forward experience Despite welcoming back Messi, Argentina was without Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi – all left out of the squad by Scaloni. Taking nothing away from Lautaro Martinez's lethal finish for the Argentina goal, you have to wonder whether one of those more experienced heads would have taken some of the earlier chances he squandered. Paulo Dybala was an unused substitute. RELATED | Sterling hat-trick gives England five-star start to Euro 2020 qualifiers Farinez gives Venezuela platform Both of Venezuela's goals from open play were taken wonderfully, but the team could be equally thankful to the man between the posts, whose save to keep out Lautaro Martinez's header in the first half was tremendously impressive. There was little he could do to prevent Argentina pulling one back. What's next? Argentina will look to get back on track when it visits Morocco for a friendly on Tuesday, while Venezuela is in action against Catalonia on Monday in a clash not sanctioned by FIFA.<doc-sep>No microphone has been detected in the system x You need to give permission for the microphone to be used to be able to use it x Error while trying to use the microphone, the browser may not be compatible x<doc-sep>Messi to start Venezuela friendly but Di Maria ruled out Argentina Barcelona man carrying hip problem Lionel Messi is expected to feature for Argentina against Venezuela on Thursday despite concerns over his fitness. Having returned to the national squad for the first time since the World Cup, Messi is likely to start the friendly at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Barcelona captain did not finish training at Valdebebas on Tuesday and has been suffering from a hip problem for a few weeks. There is serious doubt as to whether the forward will complete 90 minutes against Venezuela while he may miss out on the trip to Morocco for Argentina's second game of the international break. Barcelona are also worrying about Messi's accumulation of games with the quarter-finals of the Champions League on the horizon. "I'm worried about him playing in these two friendlies," said Argentina national team director Cesar Luis Menotti. "I see him with an important emotional fatigue between the Champions League and Argentina." Angel Di Maria will not feature in either match having pulled out of the squad on Wednesday with a muscle injury. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder's bad luck with his country goes back to 2014 when another muscle problem forced him out of their World Cup quarter-final with Belgium. Di Maria also missed the semi-final against the Netherlands and the final against Germany for the same reason. He was also substituted in both of Argentina's Copa America final defeats due to a lack of full fitness. Lionel Scaloni is expected to pick this starting line-up: Franco Armani, Renzo Saravia, German Pezzella, Gabriel Mercado, Walter Kannemann, Nicolas Tagliafico, Roberto Pereyra, Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Pity Martinez, Leo Messi and Lauturo Martinez.<doc-sep>
Captain Lionel Messi made his Argentina return on Friday but couldn't stop his team losing 3-1 to Venezuela in a friendly. MADRID (AP) – Captain Lionel Messi made his Argentina return on Friday but couldn't stop his team losing 3-1 to Venezuela in a friendly. Salomon Rondon, John Murillo and Josef Martinez scored for Venezuela at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, while Lautaro Martinez replied for Argentina. Messi hadn't played an international since the 4-3 loss to France in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He showed his usual deft skills and his long-range shot in the 38th minute was headed for the top corner until Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez Aray tipped the ball over the crossbar. Messi helped set up Argentina's 58th-minute goal with a pass to Giovani Lo Celso, who eventually fed Martinez inside the area. Venezuela had opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Rondon ran on to a long pass into the penalty area and sent a right-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Franco Armani. Murillo made it 2-0 just before halftime by curling the ball away from Armani just inside the far post. Venezuela's fast counterattacks were a nightmare for Argentina throughout and Martinez sealed victory by converting a 75th-minute penalty. The last time Argentina played at the Metropolitano it lost 6-1 to Spain in a World Cup warmup in 2018. Argentina will play another friendly on Tuesday against Morocco in Tangier. Messi's team has not won a trophy since the 1993 Copa America. It lost the last two finals of the tournament to Chile, in 2015 and 2016. It also lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. The Copa America will be held in Brazil in June. Venezuela on Monday plays a Catalunya team that is expected to include former Spain players Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez.