Prediction: Mexico vs Venezuela

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: 888sport

Both the 2019 Gold Cup and the 2019 Copa America are right around the corner. This means national teams all over the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF region continue to prepare for each Confederation’s biggest tournament. With that in mind, CONCACAF giants Mexico will take on an up-and-coming CONMEBOL side such as Venezuela in a neutral-venue friendly on the United States. This match will kick-off at 01:30 hrs BST.

Mexico

Mexico might be undergoing a transition period over newly-appointed manager Gerardo Martino. The CONCACAF giants have won just four of their last 12 friendly matches (W4, D1, L7), and it’s clear their seven-defeats-in-12-matches mark doesn’t have anyone happy around the Mexican camp. With that in mind, the former Atlanta United, Argentina and Paraguay manager is making some changes to inject some much-needed young blood on the squad. El Tri now has names such as Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven) and Diego Reyes (Leganes) to mix with veterans such as Guillermo Ochoa, Andres Guardado and Hector Moreno, among others. Their results have not been very good of late, as Los Aztecas have won their last two matches but lost three straight before that positive run. Their 10-game form is even worse, at W3, L7. Can they turn things around knowing the Gold Cup will start in approximately two weeks?

Team News

Mexico have not made an announcement on which players will participate in the 2019 Gold Cup. However, we DO know which players are not going to represent El Tri in CONCACAF’s biggest international tournament.

Names such as Marco Fabian, Hector Herrera, Jesus Corona, Hirving Lozano, Marco Fabian and Diego Lainez are some of the standout names that have not been called up by Martino.

Venezuela

Venezuela are coming off a draw in their most recent international when they surrendered an equaliser to Ecuador nearing the end of the match. With the draw, however, now Venezuela have lost just once in their last six friendly matches (W2, D3, L1). Venezuela used an alternative squad for the previous friendly match against Ecuador, but things will change here. La Vinotinto have the entire 23-man squad at his disposal, so this will be the first time Dudamel will attempt to field a team similar to the one that could play in the Copa America opener against Peru next Saturday. For what is worth, Venezuela will look to improve in their recent Copa America results in 2019, since they couldn’t make it out of the group stage in the 2015 edition held in Chile. They reached the quarterfinals in the 2016 Copa America Centenario, however, where they suffered a disappointing 0-4 loss against Argentina. Can they take another step forward and show they’re a team that can inspire fear on opposing defences?

Team News

Rafael Dudamel’s men have already announced their 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa America. Unlike the previous match against Ecuador, this time Venezuela is expected to field a very strong side.

The biggest question mark ahead of this match will be Rolf Feltscher. The Los Angeles Galaxy full-back is dealing with an injury, and it remains to be seen whether he will be available for this match.

Key Factors to Consider

• Venezuela have secured a draw in eight of their last 16 international matches.
• There hasn’t been a goalless draw in any of Venezuela’s previous 11 international matches.
• Gerardo Martino’s men have won only a third of their last 12 friendlies (W4, D1, L7)
• Mexico have scored the first three match goals in each of their last two friendly fixtures. Can they continue that great attacking run in this match as well?
• Scoring first could be key for La Vinotinto. Venezuela have scored first in five of their last seven friendly games.

Conclusion

This should be a very open game. Both sides will be experimenting, and we could be in line for a relaxed mood considering neither side will play with a lot of intensity or aggressiveness.

With that in mind, we could be in line for more than 2.5 goals scored in this match. Especially considering the scoring tendencies both sides have shown in recent friendly matches.

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: 888sport