Prediction: Brazil vs Colombia

Verdict: Brazil win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to extend on what has been a stellar purple patch on home soil this week, Brazil will welcome Colombia to Rio de Janeiro in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Brazil

Starting with the hosts, putting in what was another rampant display last week, Brazil have only continued on what has been a stellar run of form over the past 19 months. Enjoying a real second-half flurry in Rio de Janeiro last Friday, the former world champions landed themselves a 4-0 romp against Peru on home soil and the mood in their camp is at a red-hot high. Now opening up their Group B campaign with back-to-back victories against Peru and a 3-0 win against Venezuela on June 13th, Seleção have now won each of their last nine matchups across all formats, a run that stems all the way back to November 2019. Building off of what has been another rampant run of form in the South America World Cup qualifiers, Head Coach Tite has been rightfully filled with praise for his side. Along with watching attacking talisman Neymar enjoy his own free-scoring run, The Yellows have continued to impress with their performances at the back. Including back-to-back Group B clean sheets, Thursday’s hosts have gone almost 600 minutes without picking the ball out of their own net.

Team News

Making a string of changes against Peru last time out and bringing in the likes of Ederson, Fabinho and Thiago Silva, Brazil are expected to make changes again in midweek.

Everton ace Richarlison is in line for a recall and should partner attacking talisman Neymar up top. The likes of Marquinhos and Casemiro could also come back in to Tite’s side.

Colombia

As for the visitors, while Colombia might have opened their Group B campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Ecuador on home soil, Los Cafeteros have failed to build off of that result. Missing a string of golden chances as they had to settle for a 0-0 stalemate against Venezuela on June 17th, Reinaldo Rueda’s side also saw their unbeaten run come to an abrupt end last time out. Hit with a 2-1 defeat against a clinical Peru in Goiás, The Tricolors have managed to win just a pair of their last eight matchups across all formats, a run that stems back to October. With that run highlighted by a woeful 6-1 drumming at the hands of Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier seven months ago, Colombia should also be concerned by their recent struggles in Brazil. Suffering a 1-0 loss the last time they made the trip to Rio, their shock 1-0 win back in 2015 is the only victory that Rueda’s men have ever recorded against Thursday’s hosts on foreign soil.

Team News

In a boost for Colombia on Thursday, both Mateus Uribe and Luis Diaz will return after serving suspensions.

Atalanta striker Luis Muriel could also be in line for a recall with Miguel Borja likely to drop out.

Key Factors to Consider

• Last seen picking up a 4-0 win against Peru, Brazil have won their last nine matchups across all formats, a run that stems back to November 2019.
• Likewise, The Yellows have gone almost 600 minutes without picking the ball out of their own net.
• Including a 1-0 defeat the last time they made the trip to Rio, Colombia have recorded just a single victory in Brazil.
• Tite’s men have won each of their last six straight contests on home soil, recording a clean sheet in each of those wins.
• Seven of Colombia’s last nine matchups across all formats have seen over 2.5 goals by the final whistle.

Conclusion

Managing to put in another stellar display as they breezed past Peru thanks to a 4-0 romp last time out, Brazil have only continued on what has been a stunning purple patch. Enjoying a romp in their South America World Cup qualifiers and only bringing that form into this year’s Copa America, The Yellows should be smelling another golden chance in midweek. Gaining a real reputation for their continued success at the back, an inconsistent Colombia face another stern test in the early hours of Thursday morning. Suffering a 2-1 defeat against Peru last time out and given their continued struggles while in Rio, we’re backing another home victory for the former world champions this week.

Verdict: Brazil win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Unibet