Argentina controlled the match from start to finish against Venezuela but had to settle for a narrow 1-0 victory in their international friendly. The world champions enjoyed 77% possession, fired 17 shots with 9 on target, and allowed their opponents just 5 attempts without a single shot on goal.
The decisive moment came in the 31st minute, when Giovani Lo Celso latched onto a clever pass from Lautaro Martínez and finished clinically to put Argentina ahead. Despite creating numerous chances afterward, the Albiceleste were denied repeatedly by Venezuelan goalkeeper José Contreras, who produced at least 10 saves, including six in the second half.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni had rested Lionel Messi, giving opportunities to younger players instead. In the second half, he introduced Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, and Valentín Barco as substitutes for Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Nahuel Molina. Martínez had several chances in the first half but was unable to beat Contreras, while Nico Paz also saw his effort saved. Álvarez later won a free-kick but failed to convert it with power or accuracy.
Although Argentina’s dominance was clear, their inability to extend the lead left them with a modest scoreline. Scaloni, however, expressed satisfaction with the performance of his younger players and hinted at testing more new combinations in upcoming matches.
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