Brazil 0-1 Argentina RESULT: Gabriel Mercado grabs winner as Jorge Sampaoli claims victory in first game as 95,000 attend Melbourne friendly
- Brazil and Argentina met in Melbourne in a friendly on Friday morning
- Lionel Messi played but Brazil were without his Barcelona team-mate Neymar
- New Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli claimed victory in first game
- Argentina starting XI: Romero, Maidana, Otamendi, Mercado, Gomez, Banega, Biglia, Messi, Dybala, Di Maria, Higuain
- Brazil starting XI: Weverton; Fagner, Silva (c), Gil, F.Luis; Paulinho, Fernandinho, Augusto; Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus, Willian
- Gabriel Mercado put Argentina ahead just before half-time after Higuain header
- Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off after taking elbow to the face from Manchester City team-mate Nicolas Otamendi
New Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli claimed a morale-boosting victory in his first game in charge as Lionel Messi and Co claimed a 1-0 win over rivals Brazil.
Sevilla defender Gabriel Mercado scored the only goal a minute before half-time, following up after Nicolas Otamendi's header hit the post.
It was a bad evening for Otamendi's Manchester City team-mate Gabriel Jesus who was taken off on a stretcher after taking a stray elbow to the face.
Re-live all the action with our live commentary runner, below.
A morale-boosting win for Argentina in Jorge Sampaoli's first game in charge courtesy of Gabriel Mercado's first-half winner.
The 95,000 spectators packed into the MCG witnessed a great game between these two rivals.
Thanks for joining us. Stick with Sportsmail for all the reaction.
87 MINS: Jesus is down again and receiving more treatment after taking a slight elbow to the face from team-mate Otamendi, noting malicious in it.
The forward took the knock to his cheek or eye and is being taken off the field on a stretcher. City will be eager to assess their forward.
Taison comes on for Brazil.
Sampaoli, meanwhile, frantically barking instructions to his team as Argentina maintain their lead.
80 MINS: For Brazil, Giuliano comes on for Paulinho and, for Argentina, West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini is introduced in place of Ever Banega.
Despite the many subs now, this has been a really intriguing, enthralling game - not your standard friendly fare.
A 1-0 win against rivals Brazil would be a great start for new Argentina boss Sampaoli.
75 MINS: The Sevilla forward manages to get the ball out his feet and aims a powerful shot at goal but Weverton gets his body behind it and makes a solid save.
71 MINS: Another substitution, and expecting many more, as Bayern defender Rafinha comes on for Fagner.
This game has quietened down a little after a frantic spell.
Emanuel Mammana comes on for goalscorer Mercado who looks to have taken a slight knock.
68 MINS: Another change for Argentina.
Meanwhile, Coutinho curls a free-kick well over the bar.
62 MINS: Jesus gets another chance but Brazil again hit the woodwork
The striker beat Romero and had an open goal with Otamendi racing back in vain but Jesus' left-foot shot cannoned off the post before Willian smacked the opposite post with the rebound.
60 MINS: ... but finds the side-netting.
Willian whipped in another delicious free-kick which was met by Thiago Silva whose flick on drifted over to Jesus at the back post who lashed his shot wide.
59 MINS: Coutinho sees another effort blocked but this time by a yellow shirt as Paulinho inadvertently gets in the way of the shot which, admittedly, may have been curling just wide.
56 MINS: The former Manchester United star has had a busy night and been in the thick of the action but wastes his latest opportunity.
51 MINS: Nicolas Tagliafico (great name) of Independiente comes on for Jose Luis Gomez.
47 MINS: Willian went to ground rather easily as he weaved his way past a crowd of Argentina players to earn a free-kick for his country.
However, the Chelsea winger's set-piece is blocked by the Argentina wall.
45 MINS: A change at half-time as Gonzalo Higuain is replaced by Joaquin Correa up front.
Brazil had their chances, two efforts flew over the bar while Coutinho had an effort blocked, but Argentina had a strong final five minutes and lead.
44 MINS: As said, Argentina have had a strong five minutes and that pressure has paid off as Mercado scores!
In an almost identical move to earlier, Otamendia meets Di Maria's lofted cross with his head and hits the post before the ball drops to Mercado who reacted quickest to fire home.
42 MINS: Strong five minutes from Argentina as Dybala finds himself with plenty of time and space but he curls his shot wide of the target.
39 MINS: Lionel Messi and Di Maria elect to take a short corner but as the Barcelona star plays the ball back to the corner taker, the linesman gives offside.
Looked a silly decision from the Argentina pair but on closer inspection, Di Maria may have actually been onside!
37 MINS: Half a chance for Argentina as Gonzalo Higuain gets his head on Di Maria's in-swinging free-kick but, deemed offside regardless, the ball is easily smothered by Brazil goalkeeper Weverton.
33 MINS: The ball is clipped in to the former Chelsea left back who allows the ball to role out before lashing his laces through it but his drive rises over the bar.
29 MINS: The Manchester City forward took a nasty knock on the top of his foot and his boot is off on the floor.
He looked in some discomfort and was treated by the Brazil physios.
Able to walk off the pitch, it looks like he will be able to continue; despite the grimace on his face! Ouch.
21 MINS: Brazil are carving open Argentina open and have just gone close again.
Willian pulls off a terrific dummy to beat his man and lays off Coutinho in the area but the Liverpool star is quickly closed down by Romero and Otamendi and his shot is scythed down.
17 MINS: The former Tottenham man found himself in space around 25 yards out from goal and hit a decent effort but the ball sailed over Sergio Romero's net.
16 MINS: Gabriel Jesus laid the ball to Coutinho with an exquisite touch as space opened for Brazil.
The Liverpool playmaker strode forward and whipped in a ball to Willian at the far post but Otamendi stretched to hit the ball out for a corner which came to nothing.
Good play from the Premier League quartet.
10 MINS: So much for a friendly! Great commitment shown by both sides in the early stages and some real battles taking place but only one clear cut chance so far.
6 MINS: Philippe Coutinho tricked his way along the edge of the area and shaped up to shoot but was denied by a brave challenge from Gabriel Mercado.
Argentina cleared and went on a lighting counter attack as Di Maria raced into the box but smashed his shot from the left against the outside of the post.
What a game this should be!
Just before kick-off, the two sides stood and observed an impeccable minute's silence in memory of the victims in the London terror attack - two Australians died in the atrocity.
Here's some images as the side's warmed up earlier... David Luiz smiling as always.
It is among the most famous footballing rivalries in the world, with a rich history filled with famous names of yesteryear and a reputation for entertainment that has spread across the globe.
This week the Brazil vs Argentina roadshow makes its way to Melbourne for the 108th meeting of the two South American giants.
It is the second time Australia has played host to a match involving these two nations but in modern game, exporting your product thousands of miles away from home is the norm - and this fixture is no exception.
With the Brazil national squad preparing to face Argentina in a money-spinning friendly in Melbourne, Australia, Neymar sent his fans a timely reminder that he won't be turning out for Tite's side.
The Barcelona star was excused from national duty after an arduous season at the Nou Camp and has instead opted to travel to the West Coast of America to enjoy one of the world's biggest and best theme parks.
Six Flags in Los Angeles, California, was the grateful host to Neymar on Thursday afternoon and they rolled out the red carpet for him with none other than The Flash there to greet him.
Argentina starting XI: Romero, Maidana, Otamendi, Mercado, Gomez, Banega, Biglia, Messi, Dybala, Di Maria, Higuain
Brazil starting XI: Weverton; Fágner, Silva (c), Gil, F.Luís; Paulinho, Fernandinho, Augusto; Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus, Willian.
Two South American heavyweights meet in Melbourne and we will bring you all the action LIVE as it happens.
Jorge Sampaoli takes charge of his first game since become Argentina boss against a Brazil side who are without Neymar.
We'll bring you team news shortly.
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