Saturday 14 November 2015 09:58, UK
Argentina host Brazil in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday morning (UK time) and there are a number of intriguing sub plots involving both sides heading into the fixture at the Estadio Monumental.
Unusually for two countries that have won the World Cup eight times between them, neither currently occupy any of the four automatic qualifying spots in the South American section (CONMEBOL) for the 2018 tournament in Russia after two rounds of matches.
All of which has only served to increase the pressure on Argentina coach Gerardo Martino and his Brazilian counterpart Carlos Dunga leading into the match in Buenos Aires - we take a look at some of the main talking points.
Injury-hit Argentina
Martino was already without first-choice strikers Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero for the game against Brazil due to knee and hamstring problems respectively.
However, the former Barcelona coach may now be missing Carlos Tevez, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Boca Juniors, with the Argentina Football Association confirming on Monday that the 31-year-old forward is a serious doubt for the game.
Luckily the home team are still able to call upon the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Angel Correa and Nicolas Gaitan to lead the line against their great rivals.
Red-hot Neymar
Brazil captain Neymar heads into this fixture in electric form having scored 10 goals in his last seven matches for Barcelona, including a spectacular volley in his club's 3-0 win against Villarreal on Sunday.
In fact throughout October, the 23-year-old forward contributed six goals and three assists in just four La Liga appearances, leading Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague to suggest the Brazilian is behind only Messi.
"What's interesting is that he is now the second best player in the world, in my opinion. There's Messi in first and now Neymar is in second," said Balague.
With Neymar being viewed as a serious contender to win this year's coveted Ballon d'Or trophy, who better to prove his credentials against than Argentina on Friday, especially after being suspended for his country's first two qualifiers following his red card against Colombia in the Copa America in June.
Kaka in, Coutinho and Firmino out
Dunga handed Orlando City midfielder Kaka a shock call-up in August for Brazil's friendlies with Costa Rica and the US, although the 33-year-old did not feature against either, having missed the 2015 Copa America and 2014 World Cup.
The 2007 Ballon d'Or winner did come on as a substitute in the Selecao's 3-1 home win over Venezuela in October - their first victory in qualifying - after being overlooked for the 2-0 loss in Chile five days earlier.
Kaka is included again for the qualifiers against Argentina and Peru, however, the same cannot be said for the Liverpool duo of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Coutinho was recalled by Dunga for September's friendlies, before being forced to withdraw due to injury. However, despite having recovered both form and fitness for his club, the Reds playmaker has not won his place back for his country.
Meanwhile, Coutinho's club-mate Firmino has seemingly paid the price for pulling out of October's World Cup qualifying double header with a neck problem picked up playing for Liverpool.
And that means Dunga keeping faith with Firmino's replacement, Ricardo Oliveira, after the Santos striker scored his country's third goal against Venezuela last month.
In-form Willian
Brazil will be looking to Chelsea midfielder Willian for inspiration when they take on their old foes in the cauldron that is sure to be the Estadio Monumental on Friday.
Willian turned in a man-of-the-match display as Brazil got their qualifying campaign back on track by beating Venezuela 3-1 in October, the 27-year-old scoring twice before half-time in Fortaleza.
And Dunga will be hoping Willian can replicate his recent club form against Argentina - the forward has been Chelsea's best player so far this season, including a vital late free-kick winner against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League last week.
Cost of non-qualification for 2018 World Cup
Both countries have made stuttering starts to their World Cup qualifying campaigns, placing question marks over their participation at Russia 2018.
Argentina lost 2-0 to Ecuador - their first home defeat since Dunga's Brazil beat them in Rosario in 2009 - before being held to a goalless draw in Paraguay, leaving Martino's side down in seventh place in the South American standings heading into Friday's contest.
Brazil, meanwhile, have not fared much better, losing 2-0 to Copa America winners Chile in Santiago in their opening qualifier, before bouncing back last time out to overcome Venezuela at home.
But the five-time World Cup winners - who are currently sitting in fifth place which would mean a play-off for the finals - know defeat in Buenos Aires would seriously dent their hopes of maintaining their impressive record of appearing at every tournament since its inception in 1930.
Were Argentina to lose, not only would they have just one point from three games, they would also face the prospect of propping up the qualifying table with fears growing that the 2014 runners-up may fail to make the global showpiece for the first time since 1970.
So there is much at stake for both sides at Estadio Monumental on Friday…
