Uruguay vs Brazil preview

March 21, 2017
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

It will be up to high-flying Uruguay to try and stop red-hot Brazil in their tracks and edge closer to clinching an automatic qualifying berth.

The Selecao head into the Estadio Centenario clash high on confidence, searching for seventh consecutive victory of the campaign.

Uruguay had a pretty good start to the new World Cup qualifying campaign, taking 10 points from first five games, but a poor Copa America showing threatened to derail their qualifying bid.

After crashing out of the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the group stage, Uruguay were beaten by Argentina in the next qualifier, but they since managed to return to the right track.

Several very good performances at home saw La Celeste defeat Paraguay, Venezuela and Ecuador, climbing to second position in the standings.

Despite losing to Chile in their last match, Uruguay now sit four points clear of fifth-placed Argentina, although they cannot afford to relax just yet.

La Celeste face problems ahead of the high-profile clash against Brazil, as they have both Luis Suarez and Fernando Muslera suspended.

Veteran full-back Alvaro Pereira is out through injury, but Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramirez returns to the side following some very good showings this season.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Martin Silva – M. Pereira, Coates, Godin, G. Silva – Sanchez, Arevalo, Vecino, Ramirez – Cavani, Hernandez.

After the Brazil national team suffered a new low under Carlos Dunga, the Football Federation bosses had a tough task to find his successor.

But, nine months later, it is clear they have made a great choice with Tite, who transformed the team in a very short period of time and got them playing the Brazil way.

The Selecao went on to record six impressive victories in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, conceding just one goal in the process, climbing to the top of the standings with 27 points from 12 games.

Brazil now hope to get one step closer to finishing the campaign in first place and no wonder they have been made 2.38 (11/8) favourites to win in Montevideo.

The Selecao head into the Uruguay clash virtually unchanged, although Manchester City starlet Gabriel Jesus is missing through injury.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa was forced to withdraw and he has been replaced by Palmeiras captain Dudu.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Alisson – Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Miranda, Marcelo – Paulinho, Fernandinho, Renato Augusto – Coutinho, Firmino, Neymar.

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