Overview

• Scaloni is set to reshuffle his XI for Tuesday in Guayaquil, with Leonardo Balerdi poised to cover for the suspended Cristian Romero and Alexis Mac Allister in line to return in midfield.
• Lautaro Martínez is expected to start up front alongside Julián Álvarez, with Thiago Almada a leading option to fill an attacking midfield role.
• Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece framed the match as a major test, praised Argentina’s seven‑year project, and shifted the fixture to low‑altitude Guayaquil as part of his team’s evolution.
• The game kicks off Tuesday at 20:00 local time at the Monumental Banco Pichincha, with Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán assigned and broadcast in Argentina on TyC Sports and Telefe.
• The March 4-1 win over Brazil continues to echo regionally, with Brazil’s Wesley Franca recounting that “everyone was Messi” that night as Brazil rebuilds under Carlo Ancelotti.