Uruguay will continue their quest for a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they take on Venezuela in World Cup Qualifiers at the Estadio Centenario this Wednesday.
Venue: Estadio Centenario (Montevideo)
Key Statistics
Uruguay have won just one of their last six games (D1, L4).
The hosts have conceded 21 goals in their WCQ group. Only Venezuela (26) and Bolivia (32) have conceded more.
They have scored 15 times in 15 qualifier games – only Venezuela (13) and Paraguay (9) have scored fewer goals.
Venezuela have won just two of their last ten games.
They have not kept a clean sheet in eleven games.
The visitors have lost each of their last eight away WCQ games.
Head to head
There have been 32 meetings between Uruguay and Venezuela. The home nation have won 18 of those games while the visitors have won just five times.
Latest performances in all competitions
Uruguay: W-L-L-L-L
Venezuela: W-L-L-L-W
Uruguay
Uruguay got their FIFA World Cup qualification back on track last time out when they beat Paraguay. The win was secured courtesy of a Luis Suarez goal.
The result ended a four-game losing run for the hosts in the CONMEBOL WCQ campaign. The result also moved ‘La Celeste’ into the inter-confederation playoffs spot, just one point behind Peru in fourth place.
With tough matches coming up against Peru and Chile during the next international break, this match is a must-win for Uruguay.
They have a good record against Venezuela and have just once to the bottom-placed side across 11 previous competitive internationals (W3, D7).
However, the last two meetings between these nations both ended 0-0. And given their poor record in attack-15 goals in 15 WCQ’s – Uruguay could draw this game. The hosts have failed to score in seven of their 15 WCQ matches this edition but should be motivated to win here as defeat in their previous WCQ home outing means they’re now on the verge of losing successive WCQ home games for the first time since May 2004.
Possible Uruguay starting line-up
Sergio Rochet; Ronald Araujo, Martin Caceres, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera; Facundo Pellistri, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mauro Arambarri, Federico Valverde; Darwin Nunez, Luis Suarez.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Diego Godin
Suspended: Matias Vecino
Venezuela
Venezuela will look to keep their faint hope of a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup alive when they travel to Montevideo this Wednesday.
The visitors come into this tie on the back of a stunning 4-1 success over Bolivia. A hat-trick from Salomon Rondon and a goal from Darwin Machis gave them the win and ended a three-game losing run in the World Cup qualifiers.
However, Jose Pekerman’s side have already been eliminated from automatic qualification contention, and even if they secure just their second-ever WCQ win in Uruguay (W1, D2, L6), they’ll need a miracle to finish in fifth.
They currently sit bottom of the CONMEBOL table with ten points after losing eleven of their opening 15 games (W3, D1). They have recorded only one clean sheet across 15 WCQ matches this edition and just one win ‘to nil’ across their previous 21.
Their wait for a first-ever World Cup final appearance, therefore, looks set to continue, especially considering that they have lost all seven of their away games in the WCQ’s.
Possible Venezuela starting line-up
Wuilker Farinez; Ronald Hernandez, Nahuel Ferraresi, Jhon Chancellor, Oscar Gonzalez; Jose Martinez, Tomas Rincon; Darwin Machis, Romulo Otero, Yeferson Soteldo; Salomon Rondon.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Cristian Casseres
Prediction
Uruguay 1-0 Venezuela
