MATCH 16 PREVIEW : ARGENTINA X URUGUAY, A DECISIVE DERBY IN PIURA

After a debut that saw them hammer Ecuador 6-1, the Argentieans were billed the firm favorites for the title in the Copa América. Playing with their top players, however, Argentina slipped up in the second round, losing 1-nil at the hands of Mexico. Today, in Piura, Marcelo Bielsa´s side meet bitter rivals Uruguay with the chance to save face. The match will be held at the Miguel Grau Stadium and will be decisive in defining the top teams in Group B. If Mexico don´t beat Ecuador, both Argentina and Uruguay can fight to be first in the Group. The battle between the two most prolific cup winners in the Copa América, both with 14 titles, begins at 7:45 pm local time.

For this encounter, Argentina need to win to avoid a clash with Brazil in the quarterfinals. Faithful to his style, Marcelo Bielsa didn´t chance the team who lost to Mexico, and will place all his bets on striker Saviola, top scorer of the competition alongside Brazilian Adriano, with 3 goals. The Argentinean coach expects the recovery of left-back Juan Pablo Sorin, who felt an injury during the week and is doubtful for the match.

The discredited Uruguayan team, who lost three World Cup qualifiers in a row, is very calm for today´s match. Coach Jorge Fossati might make two changes on the side who beat Ecuador in the last game to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Replacing injured Paolo Montero and Cristian Rodriguez are Alejandro Lago and Vicente Sanchez.

Argentina and Uruguay have clashed 28 times in the Copa América. The Uruguayans have the best record, with 13 wins to Argentina´s 12, with 3 draws. Since 1916, when they met for the first time, Uruguay scored 33 times and Argentina 36 in this derby. In their last encounter, Argentina beat the Celeste 2-nil, in Luque, in the Copa América held in Paraguay, in 1999, with goals by Cristian Gonzalez and Martin Palermo.

Argentina: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Javier Zanetti, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze and Juan Pablo Sorín; Javier Mascherano, Luis González, Andrés D´Alessandro and Cristian González; Cesar Delgado and Javier Saviola. Coach: Marcelo Bielsa

Uruguay: Luis Barbat, Carlos Diogo, Joe Bizera, Alejandro Lago and Dario Rodríguez; Diego Pérez, Marcelo Sosa, Javier Delgado and Diego Forlán; Darío Silva and Vicente Sánchez. Coach: Jorge Fossati

Venue: Estádio Miguel Grau (Piura-PER)

Referee: Rubén Selman (CHI)

Assistant Referees: Cristian Julio (CHI) e Nelson Cano (PAR)

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