Verdict: Uruguay double chance
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Looking to claim a much-welcomed World Cup qualifying boost on Tuesday night, Uruguay will travel to El Alto when they meet Bolivia.
Bolivia
Starting with the hosts, while Bolivia might have enjoyed quite the flurry when they turned their attention back to World Cup qualifying duties back in September, La Verde have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Getting the New Year underway with a 3-1 defeat away at Peru over the weekend, Oscar Villegas’ men have registered just a single point from any of their previous four appearances. Blown away against defending world champions Argentina on October 16th as they slumped to a 6-0 drumming, the Greens have shown some real defensive issues. Losing each of their three Copa America showdowns last summer by an aggregate score of 10-1 and coming under plenty of scrutiny, Bolivia have also conceded 15 goals in just their last four World Cup qualifying showdowns.
Bolivia Team News
In what was a pair of shock omissions earlier in the month, the Maltese-based duo of Cesar Menacho and Gabriel Sotomayor were omitted from Bolivia’s squad. Making a permanent move to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk last month, 19-year-old Diego Arroyo has been included in La Verde’s squad.
Playing his domestic football with MLS outfit Atlanta, Efrain Morales will start at the heart of Bolivia’s defence. Bagging a consolation strike against Peru over the weekend, Santos youngster Miguelito will play a leading role in the final third.
Uruguay
As for the visitors, while Uruguay might have clinched a Copa America bronze medal finish last summer, the Sky Blues have largely failed to find any kind of stability over recent times. Marking their return to World Cup qualifying action over the weekend with a 1-0 loss at home against Argentina, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are seeking a much-welcomed boost on Tuesday night. Aside from an action-packed 3-2 victory against Colombia on November 16th, that is the only win that Uruguay have collected from their previous seven qualifying appearances. However, despite being pencilled in as a real underdog in midweek, La Celeste will be excited by their most recent showdown against Bolivia. Storming their way to a 5-0 romp when they met Tuesday’s hosts for a Copa America showdowns last summer, the former Leeds boss will be seeking a repeat performance here.
Uruguay Team News
Limping off against Argentina over the weekend with a suspected hamstring injury, Flamengo midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta will miss out here. However, Real Madrid superstar Federico Valverde will start in the middle of the park and earn a 69th international cap.
While Darwin Nunez might be enduring a public crisis at Anfield, the Liverpool striker will lead Bielsa’s charge in the final third. Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo will partner Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez at the back.
Bolivia vs Uruguay Key Factors to Consider
- When Bolivia and Uruguay met for a Copa America showdown last summer, the Sky Blues stormed their way to a sensational 5-0 romp.
- However, Uruguay have recorded just a single victory from their last seven World Cup qualifying appearances.
- Bolivia have registered just a sole point from their previous four qualifying appearances.
- Tuesday’s hosts have also shipped 15 goals in those four consecutive qualifying appearances.
- Eight of Bolivia’s last nine matchups across all competitions have finish with over 2.5 goals.
Conclusion
Mustering just a sole victory from any of their previous seven World Cup qualifying appearances, Uruguay are desperately seeking some kind of boost on Tuesday night. Landing a stellar 5-0 romp when they met Bolivia at last summer’s Copa America, the Sky Blues will be seeking a repeat display here. Although La Verde might find themselves pencilled in as a standout contender here, the midweek hosts are enduring a public rut. Mustering just a single point from their previous four outings and showing some major defensive issues, we are backing an away double chance in El Alto.
Verdict: Uruguay double chance
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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