The last time Argentina played a team from Iberia was in September when they took on European and world champions Spain in Buenos Aires. On that occasion the Albiceleste ran out 4-1 winners in what was a supreme performance and one that shattered Spain right to the core.
Since then, though, it's been mixed luck for the former world champions as they were defeated 1-0 by Japan in another international friendly in Saitama but got the better of Brazil in Doha in November, thanks to a scintillating Lionel Messi late goal.
Heading into tonight's encounter against Portugal in Geneva, coach Sergio Batista will hope for another encouraging performance from his Argentine players. It is a friendly but for a team who have, for one reason or the other, underachieved in international football in recent years this will be a key step in regaining an identity and building a case for themselves towards the Copa America in the summer, especially with much of the squad playing for different clubs across Europe.
Batista's squad selection has raised a few questions as Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has been sensationally not called up to the squad and neither has experienced but error-prone defender Martin Demichelis. However, the evergreen Javier Zanetti remains a vital part of the team and is in line to make his 139th appearance for the South American powerhouse.
Much of tonight's focus will be on the duel between Argentina's Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Batista has added fuel to the fire by saying, "Let's say that Cristiano is incredible, but Messi is from another planet. I don't have enough adjectives to describe Lionel, and there is not one which can define his level.
"It is a pleasure to coach him, I know that I am privileged. There are a lot of trainers that must envy me and [Josep] Guardiola. Players like Lionel emerge very rarely, if they emerge at all."
Defeating Yet Another Big Team
Portugal may have slipped down the ladder in international football since Euro 2008 and may not have a 'great' team, but the Seleccao have started to pick up momentum and are looking threatening again. Paulo Bento's side are currently on a three-game winning streak, having defeated Denmark, Iceland and Spain in the last three matches.
The 4-0 demolition of their Iberian rivals in November in Lisbon was one of the most encouraging and bigger results Portugal have had had in 2010 and they will now hope to carry on that run and win against Argentina tonight. The match will also be a key one in Portugal's preparations for the ongoing Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in which they currently lie second in Group H, two points behind Norway having also played a game more.
Just as Messi will be the star player for Argentina, Ronaldo will be Portugal's torchbearer but Bento claims that there is more to the match than just the Messi-Ronaldo duel and says, "For me, it is not just about Ronaldo against Messi, but above all about Portugal against Argentina - individual duels are for the fans (to enjoy).
"We have to bring out the best in Ronaldo within a team dynamic, and ensure they cannot do that with Messi. We want to win and play well. It is an important game to prepare the key qualifier against Norway in June.
"This is one more game for us to get ready for the Euro qualifiers," adds midfielder Danny. "It is an important match in our preparation because it is against a big team like Argentina.
"Argentina are one of the best national teams on the planet but we are at the same level. We've come to Switzerland to win the match. We know they are tough rivals and have some of the best players in the world playing at the best teams in the world."
TEAM NEWS
Argentina
Sergio Batista has already announced his starting line-up. In a 4-3-3 formation, Sergio Romero will start in goal and Javier Zanetti, Nicolas Burdisso, Gabriel Milito and Marcos Rojo will form the back-four, although Ezequiel Garay is on standby as Milito's replacement since the Barcelona centre-back suffered a knock during Tuesday's training.
Ever Banega, Javier Mascherano and Esteban Cambiasso will form a flat midfield trio and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria are set to commence in attack that will have width and finese as well as pace.
Striker Diego Milito is injured and so is Gonzalo Higuain, while Tevez and Demichelis were left out of it altogether.
Portugal
Paulo Bento could deploy a formation that will have Eduardo in goal and Jose Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Ricardo Costa and Fabio Coentrao in defence, although Rolando could also slot in place of Costa. Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho are injured.
In midfield and attack it could either be a flat-three of Carlos Martins, Raul Meireles and Joao Moutinho with Nani, Hugo Almeida and Ronaldo deployed as the three forwards, or Almeida playing as the lone striker upfront with Nani and Ronaldo behind him as the creative minds.
Ricardo Quaresma is back in form after a good season with Turkish giants Besiktas and there are whispers that he could even make the starting xi against Argentina.
Prediction
On paper Argentina look the favourites as they have a truly exceptional attackline. But Portugal are coming off the back of a 4-0 thumping of Spain and will head into this encounter with confidence and self-conviction. With both sides committed to attacking, attractive football, one can expect goals in this fixture, which should eventually be pocketed by the South Americans.
Argentina 2-1 Portugal 
