46' Colombia get us back underway for the second half!
Argentina made a brilliant start, but they started to sit back as the half went on and Scaloni will want to see them try and put this game to bed. Colombia grew into the game after their poor start, but they haven't created too many chances. Cuadrado has looked dangerous throughout though and they'll want to try and get him on the ball more.
Two quickfire goals mean that Argentina take a 2-0 lead into half-time. Romero headed De Paul's free-kick over Ospina just three minutes in before Paredes doubled their lead five minutes later with a great run through a crowded box before slotting it into the bottom corner. Lautaro Martinez and Messi have both seen efforts saved, while Muriel saw an effort blocked by Otamendi at the other end.
45' + 10' HALF-TIME: COLOMBIA 0-2 ARGENTINA.
45' + 7' CHANCE! Cuadrado is still causing Argentina a lot of problems as he pulls away down the right again before squaring it to Muriel on the edge of the box. He tees up Zapata, but he slices at his shot and it swerves up and over the crossbar.
45' + 5' BLOCK! Cuadrado breaks quickly on the counter and he tries to wrongfoot Romero on the edge of the box with a couple of stepovers. That doesn't work so he pulls it back for Muriel, but his drilled effort is deflected wide by Otamendi.
45' + 2' Into a second of eight added minutes here and Argentina are still pushing for their third goal. Paredes plays a great throughball into the box for Gonzalez down the right, but his first touch is heavy and he gifts it to Ospina.
45' At the other end, Marchesin is tested for the first time as Colombia break quickly on the counter and it's switched out to Diaz on the left. He pulls it back for Muriel on the edge of the box, but it's a comfortable save for the goalkeeper.
43' SAVE! Messi steps up to take the free-kick on the edge of the D and he curls his effort up and over the wall towards the far post. Ospina watches it all the way and he pushes it away from the goal.
42' Argentina are on the attack again here and Messi lifts a wonderful ball over the top to Martinez. He brings it down with a good first touch before being tripped by Sanchez on the edge of the D.
38' Emiliano Martinez is still down here and the medical team aren't taking any risks with him here. The referee signals for the stretcher to be brought on and the goalkeeper isn't going to be carrying on.
36' Emiliano Martinez hit his head on the ground when he fell after the collision with Mina and he's stayed down. He's getting treatment on it now, but the goalkeeper doesn't look happy with whatever he's being told by the medical staff.
32' Already, it's better from Colombia and they're moving the ball upfield quicker than before. Tesillo switches play out to Uribe on the right, but Romero's touch stops it from reaching him at the expense of a corner.
29' Argentina are patiently trying to work the ball upfield and the home fans are making it clear that they aren't happy with the lack of pressing from their side. Colombia sit back until Mina blocks Messi's run into the box.
27' GOOD SAVE! Lo Celso's throughball is perfectly weighted for Lautaro Martinez down the right of the box and he lets it roll across him before taking a shot. Ospina parries it away, but only as far as Acuna on the other side, but he drills his low effort into the side netting.
25' Argentina have scored two goals in the first 10 minutes of a qualifier for the first time since 2011, thanks to Romero's and Paredes' goals.
23' Cuadrado is in quickly to nick it off Lo Celso and he drives forward down the right again. He drills a dangerous low cross into the middle looking for Zapata, but Romero is there to intercept it.
21' Colombia's pressure is winning them a lot of corners, but they haven't taken advantage of them as Emiliano Martinez collects another one. He sets Acuna off on a counter down the left, but there's no one at the other end to get on the end of his chipped cross.
19' It's better from Colombia now as they're keeping hold of the ball, but they're not really doing anything with it. Nobody is making any runs in behind, so the defenders are left to just knock it around between them for now.
17' Another corner for Colombia and Cuadrado swings another cross into the middle of the box. Mina is right on top of the goalkeeper, but Emiliano Martinez stands his ground and holds onto it under pressure.
15' Argentina are still dominating the ball here after Mina's clearance is played straight into Lo Celso. The visitors are knocking it around in midfield and Colombia just can't get a touch on it at the moment.
13' SAVE! Cuadrado swings a deep corner into the box and he picks out Tesillo's leap above Otamendi at the far post. He flicks his header on goal, but it's a comfortable save for Emiliano Martinez.
12' Lautaro Martinez has acres of space through the middle, enough time to turn, compose himself and start the attack for Argentina. Messi makes a run ahead of him but he overhits the pass and it loops up into Ospina's gloves.
10' Most of the Colombia players look slightly rattled after Argentina's quick start to the game, but Cuadrado is trying to get them back into this. He drives forward down the right before trying to fizz the ball into the box, but it's blocked by Acuna.
7' CLOSE! Messi switches play into Acuna on the left of the box and he's unmarked, so decides to have a shot. He tries to curl it into the near post, but a big deflection off Mina takes it swerving just wide of the far top corner.
5' Cuadrado's cross hits Otamendi at the near post and he instantly tries to set Gonzalez on the counter. He manages to hold off three defenders before touching it into Lo Celso, but he can't pick out Paredes.
2' Argentina have made a bright start to the game and are putting Colombia under some early pressure here. Gonzalez makes a driving run down the right and is tripped by Tesillo and they have a free-kick in a good position.
1' Lautaro Martinez gets the game underway for Argentina!
The teams are coming out onto the pitch now, with kick-off just moments away.
Colombia have won just one of their last five games against Argentina in all competitions (D2 L2), though that was in their last meeting when they wno 2-0 in the Copa America in June 2019.
Lionel Scaloni makes five changes to his team after their draw with Chile. Montiel, Otamendi, Acuna, Gonzalez and Lo Celso are all brought in. Foyth, Tagliafico and Di Maria drop to the bench, where Aguero is also named after joining up with the squad.
Reinado Rueda makes just one change to the side that beat Peru last time out, with Lerma coming in for Muriel, who drops to the bench. Daniel Munoz misses out through suspension after being sent off in that game.
ARGENTINA SUBS: Agustin Marchesin, Juan Musso, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, German Pezzella, Nicolas Dominguez, Lisandro Martinez, Ezequiel Palacios, Angel Correa, Joaquin Correa, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero.
ARGENTINA STARTING XI (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuna; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Nicolas Gonzalez.
COLOMBIA SUBS: Camilo Vargas, Aldair Quintana, Carlos Cuesta, Oscar Murillo, Yairo Moreno, Sebastian Perez, Wilmar Barrios, Luis Muriel, Edwin Cardona, Rafael Santos Borre, Miguel Borja, Leandro Campaz.
COLOMBIA STARTING XI (4-3-3): David Ospina; Stefan Medina, Yerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez, William Tesillo; Jefferson Lerma, Gustavo Cuellar, Mateus Uribe; Juan Cuadrado, Duvan Zapata, Luis Diaz.
Argentina are unbeaten in their qualifying campaign so far, winning three and drawing two of their five games and come into this game having drawn 1-1 with Chile last time out. They face a Colombia side that have won just two of their five qualifiers so far (D1 L2). They bounced back from a heavy 6-1 defeat against Ecuador with a 3-0 win over Peru in their last match.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the World Cup qualifier between Colombia and Argentina at the Estadio Metropolitano!
