Argentina vs Brazil - Last 5 competitive meetings | Copa America 2021

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Argentina players exult after reaching the Copa America 2021 final
Argentina players exult after reaching the Copa America 2021 final

#3 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (Buenos Aires) - Argentina 1:1 Brazil

Brazil and Argentina played out a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires
Brazil and Argentina played out a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires

With both Brazil and Argentina commencing their campaigns for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with identical 2-0 defeats, something had to give when the two heavyweights locked horns in the third round of games.

Argentina, without the talismanic Lionel Messi, started with an attacking front three of Gonzalo Higuian, Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The hosts brightly at a packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, with Higuain shooting straight at the Brazil keeper, while Angel Di Maria fired narrowly wide after a piercing run.

Just as Brazil were beginning to find their rhythm, Argentina's front three combined to devastating effect to conjure the opener: Di Maria played in Higuain, who crossed for Lavezzi for the easiest of tap-ins.

With Argentina failing to build on their lead, Douglas Costa made an immediate impact off the bench, heading against the woodwork before Lima scored off the rebound.

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David Luiz was sent off in the 88th minute, but there was very little time to capitalize on their home advantage as Argentina remained without a win after three games.


#2 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (Belo Horizonte) - Brazil 3:0 Argentina

Lionel Messi (left) is distraught after a Brazil goal
Lionel Messi (left) is distraught after a Brazil goal

By the time the two teams met for the second time in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, consecutive draws and a defeat to Paraguay meant Argentina, without Messi, were sliding down the points table. But things were about to get worse for the Albiceleste in Belo Horizonte.

A rampant Brazil, leading the Conmebol table, ran riot, piercing holes in a porous Argentina defense at will and scoring thrice without reply. Neymar played in Gabriel Jesus in the 24th minute for Brazil's opener before the former Barcelona star scored his 50th international goal to double the hosts' advantage on the cusp of half-time.

Despite continuing to dominate proceedings, Brazil eased off and scored just once after the interval, with Paulinho applying the rubber-stamp on an emphatic win. A listless Argentina struggled to conjure any response, with Messi cutting a lonely and forlorn figure up front, as the Albiceleste slumped to sixth in the table.

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#1 2019 Copa America Semi-final (Belo Horizonte) - Brazil 2:0 Argentina

Brazil players celebrate one of their two goals against Argentina
Brazil players celebrate one of their two goals against Argentina

In their last competitive meeting, Brazil faced Argentina in Belo Horizonte for a place in the 2019 Copa America final.

However, after reaching the final of the competition in their last two appearances, Argentina failed to make it three in a row, as they fell 2-0 to the eventual champions.

The hosts started on the front foot and made their ascendancy count when Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Argentina settled into the game and almost scored an equalizer only for Aguero to rattle the woodwork off a Messi free-kick.

With Brazil failing to build on their slender lead, Argentina came close to scoring again, with Messi hitting the woodwork and Aguero wastefully putting the rebound off-target. That miss would prove costly, as Brazil doubled their advantage on the night, courtesy of Roberto Firmino, 19 minutes from time.

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Argentina's winless run against Brazil in competitive fixtures stretched to seven games in the process.

With Messi going winless in his ninth international tournament, the Albiceleste remain without a major title since their Copa America triumph in 1993.

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