Venezuela vs Brazil
South America – 2018 World Cup Qualifier
Date: Wednesday; 12th October 2016,
Kick-off at 1:30 UK
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, Merida.
Venezuela continued their abject excuse for a qualifying campaign last week as a 3-0 loss in Uruguay kept them stranded at the bottom of the World Cup qualification table. They have managed just two points from their nine games so far, putting them 14 points adrift of the qualification zone and five points behind 9th placed Bolivia.
This defeat made it five games in all competitions without a win for Venezuela. They have previously lost 4-1 to Argentina and 2-0 to Colombia, drawing against Argentina again and Mexico.
Despite their awful qualification run Venezuela actually put in a good showing in Copa America. They beat Jamaica and Uruguay in the group stages, drawing with Mexico and making it through to the knockout rounds before being outclassed by Argentina.
In qualifying they have lost seven of their nine games though, scoring nine goals and conceding 24. At home they have lost three of their four games, including a 3-1 defeat to Ecuador and a 4-1 thrashing by Chile.
Brazil are coming into this game off the back of a 5-0 demolition of Bolivia last week. The scoring was kicked off just 11 minutes into the game as Neymar netted his 49th international goal. Goals from Phillipe Coutinho, Filipe Luis, Gabriel Jesus, and Roberto Firmino followed to make it three wins in a row for them. This puts them within a point of the top spot holders Uruguay.
Their Copa America campaign was a failure after they left out some key figures to focus on their home Olympics later in the summer. They went out at the group stages, but it paid off later on as they won Olympic Gold.
Brazil’s failed Copa America campaign aside, they are in decent form in the qualifiers. They have won five of their nine games and lost just once, although their 3-0 win over Ecuador was their first away victory of the qualifiers after drawing with Argentina and Paraguay and losing to Chile.
I don’t think the visitors will have many issues here though. They have the confidence and the ability to get a win in Venezuela, and I think they’ll be a few goals to talk about as well. Seven of Brazil’s last ten outings have seen at least three goals scored in them, whilst Venezuela have been involved in high scoring games in seven of their nine qualifying games so far.
This makes odds of 1/1 for a Brazil Win and Over 2.5 Goals look a very good value backing, and I’m also going for a 3-1 correct score prediction at 10/1.
Venezuela vs Brazil: Head to Head Statistics
Venezuela have won just once against Brazil in their previous 11 games, they have lost 8 times to Brazil and drawn twice.
Brazil have scored 33 goals against Venezuela and conceded just 6 goals.
Brazil are currently unbeaten in their last 5 games against Venezuela with 3 wins and 2 draws.
Venezuela vs Brazil: Prediction
Brazil are huge favourite in this game, they are in an excellent form recently. They have won their last 3 games, and have scored at least 2 goals in each of their last 3 games. The Brazilian team have kept clean sheets in 2 of their last 3 games.
Venezuela are winless in their last 3 games, they have conceded at least 2 goals in each of their last 3 games. Also Venezuela have failed to score in 2 of their last 3 games. So the visitors look good for another comprehensive win and we can expect them to get this done with a healthy margin.
Venezuela vs Brazil: Tips
Half-time/Full-Time – Brazil at 2.05
