The 43rd edition of the Copa Amèrica began with the favourites Argentina meeting Bolivia, with three Barça players in the hosts’ starting line up - Messi, Mascherano and Milito, who played for the whole 90 minutes.

Messi key

The Ciudad de La Plata Stadium was the venue for the game, which was goalless in the first half, despite good chances for Batista and Carlos Tevez early on and a shot from Ezequiel Lavezzi, after a great assist from Messi, who led the team throughout, coming 20 minutes later.
However, Bolivia began to get more into the game and as their confidence grew they started to impose their fast passing, well disciplined game and on 48 minutes Ever Banega put them ahead. As the Argentineans began to show some nerves, they were saved by a 76 minute Kun Aguero equaliser.

Draw a fair result

Argentina then had two good chances to take the lead – for Kun and Di Maria right at the end of the game, but Bolivia held out and in players like Walter Flors and Jaime Robles, as well as striker Moreno Martins, who gave Milito a tough time, they showed they could have stars to give the more than 1,000 Bolivian fans who attended the game plenty to cheer at the tournament.

In the end, the draw was a fair result and Messi’s Argentina now face Columbia on July 6th in Santa Fe and close the group stage against Costa Rica on 11th.