Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero came through unscathed in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Tuesday night.
City’s leading scorer, who has 11 in eight matches for the club so far this season, had declared himself fit despite a calf problem picked up at the weekend.
With City facing Barcelona next week in a key Champions League clash, Aguero’s decision to play was a massive risk.
However manager Pep Guardiola will be a relieved man after Aguero came through the match unscathed, although Argentina embarrassingly lost 1-0 to Paraguay.
In other games, Brazil comfortably beat Venezuela thanks to goals from Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Chelsea star Willian.
It was a miserable night for Argentina.
Aguero missed a penalty as Argentina suffered their first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, losing 1-0 in Cordoba.
Aguero missed the penalty, for the fifth time in 2016, to equalise against Paraguay. His attempt early in the second half was saved by Justo Villar, who was making his first start since this year’s Copa America.
Paraguay’s winner came after just 18 minutes when winger Derlis Gonzalez outpaced a sluggish defence to score past Sergio Romero.
Paraguay sat on that goal, inviting pressure from the hosts, who struck the post through Angel Di Maria in the first half and had a Marcos Rojo goal controversially ruled out for offside.
For City manager Pep Guardiola, however, the good news is that Aguero, finished the match in one piece.
Before the game Aguero declared himself fit to play for Argentina in their World Cup Qualifier against Paraguay despite limping out of his country’s 2-2 draw in Peru on Thursday with a calf problem.
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