Prediction: Peru vs Colombia

Verdict: Under 1.5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 31/20

Bookmaker: 888sport

Peru and Colombia are looking to fix every potential mistake ahead of the 2019 Copa America. With that in mind, both sides will meet on Sunday in a friendly match at Estadio Monumental in Lima, at 22:00 hrs UK time. It will also be Peru’s farewell from the country before departing to Brazil.

Peru

Los Incas have had uninspiring results over the past few matches. Since the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Peru have won just three of their nine matches (W3, D1, L5) although they tend to win by large margins every time they’ve done it over that span: they’ve kept a clean sheet in eight of their last nine wins, and seven of those have come by a margin of at least two goals. Even though their recent form has not been very good, they’ve won two of their last three matches (W2, L1) so there’s a chance they might be getting hot at the right time. Four of the last five matches involving Peru have seen just one side scoring, however, so scoring the first goal could potentially be key here. This is Peru’s final friendly match before the 2019 Copa America. They will play in Group A alongside Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia.

Team News

Peru might not have two important players available for this match, as both Luis Advincula and Yoshimar Yotun are dealing with injuries.

However, both players should be fit enough for the start of the 2019 Copa America.

Colombia

Colombia, on the other hand, have been playing at a very high level of late and the numbers can back that up. They’re coming off a solid 3-0 win over Panama in their last friendly match, and they have gone W4, L1 over their last five matches across all competitions and venues. In fact, since the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Los Cafeteros have played seven friendlies, delivering a W5, D1, L1 mark over that span. Much like Peru, scoring first might be key for Carlos Queiroz’s men — they conceded the opener in their lone defeat over that aforementioned seven-game span, but have also broken the deadlock in each of the last four wins. Colombia are considered to be a darkhorse candidate for the Copa America title, as some of their best players feature in Europe – including Falcao, James Rodriguez and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado. Los Cafeteros will play in Group B alongside Argentina, Paraguay and Qatar.

Team News

Colombia might not have Roger Martinez due to an injury.

In fact, the Club America striker might be in danger of losing the Copa America altogether.

Key Factors to Consider

• Firepower! Colombia have scored at least three goals in five of their last seven friendly wins.
• Late drama? Three of the last four H2H matches have featured at least one goal in the final 15 minutes.
• Do not expect many goals, though. Each of the last 11 head-to-head meetings have had under 2.5 goals in total. Only four of those matches saw both teams score.
• Colombia are in a good run of form, losing just once in their last 11 matches: W7, D3, L1.
• In comparison, Peru have won just four times over that span: W4, D1, L5.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, each of the last 11 H2H meetings have featured under 2.5 goals. If we add the fact that this is a friendly match where neither side will take too many risks, all signs point towards this match being a low-scoring affair.

Verdict: Under 1.5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 31/20

Bookmaker: 888sport