World Cup Qualifications, South America, 25-26. March

[spkutano]

 

[spkutano]

Uruguay vs Peru Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Uruguay:
Muslera; Araujo, Godin, Gimenez, Olivera; Pellistri, Bentancur, Vecino, Valverde; Cavani, Luis Suarez

Peru:
Gallese, Advincula, Ramos, Callens, Lopez; Cartagena, Yotun, Carrillo, Flores, Cueva; Lapadula

Uruguay host Peru in their penultimate CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier at the Centenario. Both national teams are looking to book their ticket for Qatar. Uruguay are currently fourth on the table, one place and one point above Peru. Just to remind You, the fourth place guarantees participation at the World Cup in Qatar, while the fifth place means an inter-confederation play-off. In other words, Uruguay are in pole-position, a victory here combined with desirable result on the match between Brazil and Chile, will mean they are definitely fourth on the table. Nobody expects the leaders Brazil to lose from Chile at home. However, Uruguay must do their homework first, to beat Peru. The actual form is good, they are in series of two victories. In the last round they won 4:1 against Venezuela. The four goals were scored by four different players - Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giorgian de Arrascaeta. Coach Diego Alonso has most of his players available, including Matias Vecino and Lucas Torreira, who missed the last match due to suspension and COVID-19 respectively. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who missed last month's qualifiers due to injury, is also expecting to start here. Veteran strikers Suarez and Cavani should lead the line.

As I've already wrote, Peru are currently fifth on the table, one place and one point behind Uruguay. They are in excellent form, three victories and one draw on the last four matches in the qualifications. Peru managed to beat Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia, scoring six goals in the process and conceding just once. But in the last round they dropped two points, playing an 1:1 draw with Ecuador at home. DC United midfielder Michael Estrada gave advantage to Ecuador after just two minutes, but Edison Flores have equalized in the 69th minute. The draw on that match have seen La Bicolor slip down to fifth place. However, they are just one point behind the actual opponents and have a relatively easy final fixture against already-eliminated Paraguay next week. Nevertheless, it is crucial to register a positive result in this match. It won't be easy at all, Peru have not beaten Uruguay in the last five years, since a 2:1 home win in March 2017. To be more complicated, La Bicolor will be missing some important players. The injured Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan are two key absentees for the guests. Jose Carvallo is also sidelined with appendicitis, while Miguel Araujo tested positive for COVID-19. The mentioned quartet is expected also to miss the last qualifying game. Raziel García will serve a one-match ban due to accumulated yellow cards.

Uruguay vs Peru Prediction:

With just two games left to play in the qualification campaign, this is a do-or-die fixture for both Uruguay and Peru. Usually this kind of matches are very nervous. The home advantage should not be underestimate as the guests will come under heavy pressure. But most of all, Uruguayan players are more experienced. Players like Cavani and Suarez are able to make a difference in a match like this.

Uruguay vs Peru Pick: Uruguay to win @ 1.58 with Pinnacle