On Thursday 12 November, Argentina and Brazil are all set to go head-to-head in the latest edition of South American football’s highest-profile international clásico, this time in Matchday 3 of the region’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifying phase. As a little taster for the action ahead, FIFA.com brings you some of the stats behind this heavyweight clash.
3The number of games between these two footballing giants in Argentina in South American Zone qualifying, the first two ending in wins for La Albiceleste, 2-1 and 3-1 in 2001 and 2005 respectively, both at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental. In the most recent, however, in 2009 in Rosario’s Gigante de Arroyito stadium, Brazil took the spoils 3-1.
5The unbeaten run Dunga has enjoyed against Argentina, spanning his two spells as Brazil boss. The first of this sequence came in a 3-0 friendly win at Wembley in September 2006 and the last was another friendly success for A Seleção, this time 2-0 in October 2014. The ex-Canarinho captain also oversaw his country’s 3-0 victory over their arch-rivals in the 2007 Copa America final and, in total, can point to four wins and one draw from five encounters – his teams scoring 11 and conceding just one in the process.  
7The number of FIFA World Cups won by the pair, O País Pentacampeãoclaiming a record five (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) to Argentina’s two (1978 and 1986).
4At FIFA World Cups, the pair have met on four occasions, two going the way ofA Seleção – 2-1 and 3-1 at Germany 1974 and Spain 1982 respectively. La Albiceleste were 1-0 victors at Italy 1990, while the only draw was a 0-0 affair at Argentina 1978.
101The number of years that have passed since the first official senior match between the two nations, which took place on 20 September 1914 in Buenos Aires and ended in a 3-0 triumph for the home side. Prior to that occasion, in 1908 and 1912, Argentina had played games against a Brazilian select XI but which was not classed as a national team.
4Thursday will be Gerardo Martino’s fourth direct involvement in an Argentina-Brazil match, and El Tata has yet to win. In his playing days, Martino and Argentina drew 0-0 and lost 4-0 at the Ecuador 1981 edition of the South American U-20 Championship while, after stepping into the Albiceleste hotseat, his charges lost 2-0 in a 2014 friendly played in Beijing.
8The number of goals netted by Pele against Argentina, making him the top scorer in this regional clásico. O Rei grabbed his goals between 1957 and 1970 and his tally is one higher than Argentinian counterpart Emilio Baldonedo, though the latter – an ex-Huracan striker – fired all seven of his clásico strikes during 1940.
2226The number of days to have passed since Argentina and Brazil last met in a competitive senior international. That encounter, from September 2009, had Dunga in the Brazil dug-out and Diego Maradona on the Argentina bench, with the visiting Seleção winning 3-1 in Rosario during South Africa 2010 qualifying.
0The number of goals struck in Argentina-Brazil clásicos by the 25 Albicelesteplayers called up for 12 November’s qualifier. In contrast, of the 23 members of the Canarinho party, five know what it is like to score against Argentina: Kaka (2), Oscar, Neymar (2), Hulk and Daniel Alves.