Argentina vs Brazil, international friendly live streaming: How to watch Melbourne match online, TV listings, team news, start time and preview

Brazil will be without Neymar as they take on Argentina in the blockbuster friendly at the MCG on Friday.

Lionel Messi
Messi will be to Argentina's chances against Brazil on Friday Reuters

Brazil take on Argentina at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in an international friendly on Friday.

A lot of focus will be on Jorge Sampaoli at what will be possibly be a sell-out crowd at the MCG as the former Sevilla boss will lead Argentina for the first time.

On the other hand, Brazil will have to make do without their star Neymar as the Barcelona forward is on a much-deserved break after a busy season with the La Liga giants and the national side.

Sampaoli has been tasked with the job of leading the team to 2018 World Cup in Russia as the Argentine side is struggling at the qualifying campaign, standing outside the automatic qualifying place at the fifth spot after 14 games.

The 57-year-old is the third coach after recently-sacked Edgardo Bauza and Gerardo Martino for La Albiceleste in their qualifying campaign. However, with the friendly in Melbourne, there will be less pressure on the team and it is a good platform for Sampaoli to begin stint with Lionel Messi and Co.

Argentina, who were crushed in their World Cup qualifier in November last year by Brazil 3-0 on the road after Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Marcelo found the back of the net, will be looking for revenge.

And the absence of Neymar gives the second-ranked side a good chance to dominate the one-off match before they head to Singapore for their international friendly at the National Stadium on 13 June. However, Brazil have enough firepower in the likes of Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus, David Luiz, Douglas Costa and Thiago Silva to fetch a positive result.

The onus will be on Barcelona star Lionel Messi along with Juventus star Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Paris Saint-Germain's Angel Di Maria to do the job for Sampaoli on Friday.

Team News

Argentina

Possible XI: Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Mammana, Fazio; Biglia, Messi, Dybala, Di Maria, Correa; Higuain

Brazil

Possible XI: Ederson; Fagner, Silva, Luiz, Sandro; Willian, Fernandinho, Paulinho; Coutinho, Douglas Costa, Jesus

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