Colombia will host Peru in the 15th round of the CONMEBOL 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this Saturday.
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez (Barranquilla)
Key Statistics
Colombia are winless in their last five World Cup qualifier (WCQ) games (D4, L1).
They have failed to score in each of their last five qualifier games.
They have kept four clean sheets from their last five qualifier games.
Peru have collected exactly two yellow cards in four of their last five competitive internationals.
The visitors have won three of their last four games in all internationals.
They have scored three goals in two of their last three wins.
Head to head
Both teams have met frequently in the past with each enjoying some memorable results. But over the last 15 head-to-head meetings, Colombia have enjoyed superiority, winning eight times and losing just once in 90 minutes against Peru (D6).
Latest performances in all competitions
Colombia: W-D-L-D-D
Peru: W-D-W-W-L
Colombia
Colombia will look to pick up another win that will bring them closer to booking a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they welcome Peru to the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez this Sunday.
Despite winning just three of their opening games so far (D8, L3), the hosts retain the hope of progressing to the November tournament and will be looking to record their fourth win when Peru come visiting.
Reinaldo Rueda’s side currently sits third in the table with 17 points, six points behind Ecuador in third and level on points with Peru who are in fifth.
But, they are in danger of crashing out of the top four and down to seventh if they lose this game given that only two points separate them from eight-placed Bolivia.
The signs of another poor display is high as the hosts come into this game winless in their last five qualifier games (D4, L1) failing to score in each of those games but keeping four clean sheets in that period.
However, they won their last game against Honduras (a friendly match), giving themselves a confidence boost coming into this tie. They will hope to build on that win and take home the maximum points needed to keep them in pole position for a top-four finish.
Possible Colombia starting line-ups
David Ospina; Daniel Munoz, Davinson Sanchez, Yerry Mina, Juan Cuadrado; Matheus Uribe, Wilmar Barrios, James Rodriguez; Luiz Diaz, Luis Muriel, Miguel Borja.
Injured: Duvan Zapata
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Peru
Peru will look to pick up the points needed to keep their World Cup hope alive when they travel to Barranquilla on Saturday.
Although their destiny is no longer in their hands, with 17 points to their name, they still retain the hopes of booking their place in the World Cup.
They come into this tie unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions (W3, D1). Their last game saw them beat Jamaica 3-0. The game was the second time they scored three goals in a game in their last four games.
A win in this game will take them above Colombia in the CONMEBOL group standings and they will fancy their chances of winning.
However, Ricardo Gareca’s men have failed to score in four of their last six WCQ away matches (W2, L4) and haven’t netted in a WCQ match in Colombia since August 2001, so the trip north has seldom been one they have enjoyed.
Possible Peru starting line-ups
Pedro Gallese; Luis Advincula, Luis Abram, Alexander Callens, Miguel Trauco; Yoshimar Yotun; Christian Cueva, Edison Flores, Renato Tapia, Andre Carrillo; Gianluca Lapadula.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Colombia 1-0 Peru
