Prediction: Brazil vs Peru

Verdict: Brazil win to nil

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to make it back-to-back Nations League victories in the early hours of Wednesday, Brazil will welcome Peru to the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha.

Brazil

Starting with the hosts, while Brazil might have once again struggled to find top gear over the weekend, Dorival Junior’s men claimed a crucial World Cup qualifying boost. Mounting an essential comeback as they snatched a 2-1 victory away at Chile, the Selecao must avoid another potential banana skin here. However, suffering major Copa America frustration over the summer as they crashed out at the quarter-final phase following a penalties defeat at the hands of Uruguay, the former Flamengo boss has come under a tremendous amount of pressure. Signing off September’s international break with an infamous 1-0 defeat against Paraguay, Brazil have remarkably registered just five wins from any of their previous 15 consecutive appearances across all competitions – a run that stems back over the past 13 months.

Team News

Withdrawing from the Selecao’s squad last week and not set to feature over the next six weeks due to a hamstring injury, Brazil will once again be without Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson here. Likewise, also stepping down due to fitness issues, Real Madrid talisman Vinicius Junior will also not play any part.

Impressing over the weekend and finding the net away at Chile on his full international debut, 23-year-old Igor da Cruz should keep his spot in the final third. Settling for a spot on the bench in Santiago, Newcastle skipper Bruno Guimaraes could be handed a full recall.

Peru

As for the visitors, springing what was an almighty upset at home against Uruguay over the weekend as they snatched a 1-0 victory on home soil, Peru will be desperate to collect another heavyweight scalp here. However, despite claiming their own respective boost in Lima, the Bricolour have shown some glaring issues since getting their World Cup qualifying adventure underway last year. Signing off September’s international break with a 1-0 defeat against Ecuador, Jorge Fossati’s men have registered just a single win from any of their nine qualifying appearances. Likewise, enduring a public Copa America struggle over the summer as they put just a sole point on the board, Peru will certainly have another real task on their hands when they arrive at the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in midweek.

Team News

Both dealing with respective injury issues and withdrawing from Peru’s squad last week, the duo of Renato Tapia and Yoshimar Yotun will once again miss out here. Also dealing with his own recent knock, Fossati’s camp will also be without the services of Cagliari striker Gianluca Lapadula.

Bagging a dramatic last-gasp winner against Uruguay over the weekend, Portland Timbers defender Miguel Araujo will feature at the back. Now playing his domestic football with Swedish giants Malmo, ex-Granada midfielder Sergio Pena will partner Silkeborg’s Oliver Sonne in the middle of the park.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Brazil and Peru met for their reverse World Cup qualifying showdown on September 13th, Wednesday’s hosts collected a 1-0 victory on foreign soil.
• In fact, Brazil have won each of their previous five consecutive appearances against Peru by an aggregate score of 12-2.
• Despite collecting a 2-1 win away at Chile over the weekend, Brazil have won just five of their previous 15 appearances across all competitions.
• The Bricolour have recorded just a sole win from any of their nine World Cup qualifying appearances.
• Peru have registered just a single goal from any of their previous six showdowns on foreign soil.

Conclusion

Mounting what was an essential comeback away at Chile over the weekend, Brazil will be desperate for a far more smoother showdown here. Pencilled in as a landslide contender when they return to home soil in the early hours of Wednesday, the South American heavyweights will be excited by a rampant record against the midweek guests. Including a 1-0 win when they travelled to Peru 13 months ago, they have won each of their previous five battles by an aggregate score of 12-2.

Verdict: Brazil win to nil

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: Luckster