Chile vs Uruguay
2018 World Cup Qualifiers – South America.
Date: Tuesday; 15th November 2016,
Kick-off at 23:30 UK
Venue: Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile.
Chile
There is no doubt that any team that loses the quality that Alexis Sanchez brings is going to be weaker, but Chile haven't got a lot of room to make excuses in this World Cup Qualifying Group. They earned an important point in Colombia last week and beating Uruguay will put Chile back on the right road to make it through to the World Cup Finals in Russia in 2018.
That result might have dropped Chile down to 5th in the Group but they have a solid 17 points behind them and that means they remain just a point behind Colombia in 3rd place. Home form is going to be very important for Chile with 10 of their 17 points earned here and the side have scored 9 goals and conceded 4 in their 5 home Qualifiers.
Chile won the Copa America again this past summer but they have been inconsistent in the World Cup Qualifiers although they head into this round of games with 1 loss from their last 4 games. They have won 6 of their last 9 home World Cup Qualifiers and Chile have beaten Peru and Bolivia in back to back games here officially, although the game with Bolivia actually was changed to a win after the away side featured an ineligible player.
Uruguay
The South American World Cup Qualifying Group tends to be a very competitive section right up until the final couple of rounds of Qualifiers. However this one might have a different feel with both Brazil and Uruguay beginning to pull away at the top of the Group after both teams had big wins over Argentina and Ecuador respectively last week.
That means Uruguay are still 2nd in the Group with 23 points earned and importantly means they are 7 points clear of Argentina in 6th place. For a team with that kind of lead, it might be a surprise that Uruguay have such a poor 1-2-2 away record in the Qualifiers where they have scored and conceded 7 goals.
Uruguay are unbeaten in their last 4 World Cup Qualifiers and they have won 3 of those games to start moving clear of the teams chasing them. They haven't won any of their last 4 away World Cup Qualifiers and Uruguay have to be worried that they have conceded at least twice in 3 of those games, although they have scored in all but one of those games.
Chile vs Uruguay: Head-to-head stats
Uruguay thrashed Chile 3-0 when the teams met for the first leg fixture at the stadium on November 2015. The teams also share 2 wins each from their last 4 meetings in all competitions.
But Chile have the better record in World Cup Qualification fixtures at their home ground against Uruguay. They managed to pick up 3 wins and 2 draws in the last 6, while losing once.
Chile vs Uruguay: Prediction
This is an all-important fixture of Chile and they have to win this to keep their qualification hopes alive. They are on 17 points at the moment, while Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru are all inside a 3 gap. If they want to remain inside the qualification zone, they must look to win this fixture, especially when the game is played at their home ground.
Uruguay are without a win in their last four, but are a capable team with the likes of Suarez and Cavani in fine form. They have quietly snatched draws against Colombia and Brazil on the road and must not be underestimated by any means. Now Chile remains as a very unpredictable team and most of their big players often fail to live up to the expectations. As a result, Uruguay have every chance of earning at least a draw here.
Chile vs Uruguay: Bet Tips
Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 goals at 7/5 (2.40)
Correct Full-Time Score: 2-2 draw at 15/1 (16.00).
