Player ratings as Lautaro Martinez scores a brace without Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez

Even without Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni, Argentina still defeated Peru 2-0 to remain perfect in this competition before the Knockout Stage.

Argentina have already qualified for the quarterfinals of Copa America 2024 after picking up six points from their first two matches, so Lionel Scaloni rested most of his starters against Peru, including Lionel Messi, who is dealing with a minor injury. Instead of the traditional XI that won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, La Albiceleste’s backups got the chance to show their manager what they bring to the team.

How the game happened

Despite the absence of Lionel Messi, Argentina started well, winning four corners in the first fifteen minutes of play. Every ball delivered by Angel Di Maria was in danger, and a goal seemed inevitable. Paredes’ free kick from 25 yards almost won for the reigning champions, but Gallese managed to get a firm right hand on a powerful drive to tap it over the bar in the 25th minute.

Unsurprisingly, La Albiceleste held the reins for most of the rest of the half, probing Peru’s defense as they looked for more possession in the final third. Just before the break, a clever pass from Paredes opened up Di Maria in space, who then laid the ball past Montiel. The right-back played a low ball that Lo Celso curled into the box, but the midfielder’s shot was saved.

Peru’s championship defense lasted only three minutes in the second half. Di Maria shook off his defender, turned quickly and played the ball through to Martinez who was on goal and managed to fire a shot past the keeper for a 1-0 lead. Argentina almost doubled their lead less than ten minutes later from a Tagliafico corner, but the referee disallowed Lo Celso’s spot kick for Gallese.

The 2022 World Cup winners had another chance to seal the match after conceding a penalty in the 72nd minute from Castillo’s foul ball. Paredes stepped up to take the shot, but missed the goal and hit the post, keeping the score at 1-0. It was none other than Martinez who eventually gave Argentina their second goal, but not without controversy; the striker pushed Corzo back before beating Gallese, but the goal was saved, giving Argentina a 2-0 win.

GK: Emiliano Martínez – 6/10 – Martinez had little to do tonight, facing just one shot on target.

RB: Gonzalo Montiel – 7/10 – Montiel suffered a slight injury at the start of the game, but the right-back quickly developed and combined well with Di Maria, showing his ability to attack and win a penalty for Argentina. He was also forced to cover Pezzella on occasions when the defender was caught out.

CB: German Pezzella – 5/10 – Admittedly, Pezzella had little to do in defense tonight, but he was beaten in one of Peru’s only chances of the game.

CB: Nicolas Otamendi – 6/10 – Otamendi may have lost his starting job to Lisandro Martinez, but the defender helped keep Argentina’s third clean sheet of the tournament.

LB: Nicolas Tagliafico – 6/10 – Most of Argentina’s attacks took place on the right side of the pitch tonight, but Tagliafico managed to make his presence felt in defense and even scored from a corner that ended up going wide.

CM: Exequiel Palacios – 6/10 – Palacios hasn’t had the same impact as Paredes, but the Bayer Leverkusen man looks at home in midfield, working well with Paredes and Lo Celso to control the ball while rarely losing possession.

CM: Leandro Paredes – 7/10 – On his 30th birthday, Paredes was the best and most creative midfielder for La Albiceleste tonight. His dangerous free kick and Di Maria’s clearance created Argentina’s two best chances of the first half. Indeed, he missed a penalty that could have doubled his team’s lead.

CM: Giovani Lo Celso – 5/10 – Montiel dropped the ball to Lo Celso just 12 yards out, but the midfielder failed to score. He also scored Argentina’s second goal by blocking Gallese.

RW: Angel Di Maria – 8/10 – Almost all of Argentina’s best scoring chances, including the opening goal, were developed on the right side of the pitch thanks to Di Maria. The captain also had a specific set of deliveries throughout the night.

ST: Lautaro Martinez – 8/10 – Martinez had a quiet first half, but scored in the second half. Martinez now has four goals in three games at Copa America 2024.

LW: Alejandro Garnacho – 6/10 – Garnacho had a few good chances in attack, including a curling shot that went wide in the first half, but he failed to leave his mark on the game and was the first player to be sent off in the 66th minute.

What you are holding

Enzo Fernandez – 6/10 – Enzo Fernandez slotted in well in midfield, controlling the ball and the tempo of the game in his second appearance of the tournament as he continued to build his fitness for the game.

Nicolas Gonzalez – 5/10 – After an impressive performance against Chile, Gonzalez didn’t get a chance to show what he can do on the left side of Argentina.

Valentin Carboni – 5/10 – Carboni made his first appearance for La Albiceleste at the age of 19.

Guido Rodriguez – 5/10 – There were calls for Rodriguez to start tonight, but the Real Betis man managed 13 minutes and stoppage time.

Lucas Martinez Quarta – 5/10 – The Fiorentina man scored a regular fifth after coming on in the 83rd minute.

The manager

Lionel Scaloni – 7/10 – Although he did not coach his team from the sidelines, Lionel Scaloni still put out a strong team that first took all three points in Peru. Not only was he able to give several players, including Garnacho and Palacios, their first tournament, but he also rested his most important players before the quarter-finals.

Scaloni will have an interesting decision to make the Knockout Stage, however, between Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. Alvarez got the start in the first two games of the Copa America, but Martinez has scored in all three, and has arguably been Argentina’s most influential player so far.