Faltering Chile need win against bottom-placed Venezuela

The Chileans have been a regular fixture at the world’s biggest football tournament in recent years, but this time they will find it very difficult to compete at the World Cup. Lying in third last place only, there is currently massive fire under the roof

It seems unlikely that the aging superstar Arturo Vidal and his colleagues will be able to turn the tide. In the duel against the last team in the table, however, they could at least achieve a small “redemption success”.

The fact is that in the current calendar year, the visitors have once again had much less going for them than the equally struggling home side. One indication of this is the fact that the bookmakers’ odds on Chile vs. Venezuela see the two-time Copa winners as clear favourites.

However, it should be said: The underdogs have recently scored a respectable success and are certainly no cannon fodder. We are therefore a little doubtful about the distribution of the odds and dare our own assessment of the starting position.

Chile – statistics & current form

The year 2021 did not go according to plan for the South American champions of 2015 and 2016. In the World Cup qualifiers, it was only at the seventh attempt with a success

Although Paraguay were beaten 2-0 a few days ago, the mood is still subdued, because in the months prior to the qualifiers, just three points were taken from six games. Still, the bookmakers are putting a clear prediction on the hosts in Chile vs. Venezuela.

Wins are in short supply

In the total of 13 international matches in the current calendar year, “La Roja” has only reached the maximum points three times. With three defeats and just as many draws, they are already far behind in the current competition. At the moment, they are six points off the fourth place they are aiming for in the table.

The state of the offensive is particularly worrying Excluding the win against Paraguay, the goal average in 2021 qualifying is just 0.5 per game. The only glimmer of hope in this case is the comparatively weak opponents

Seldom without conceding a goal

On the other hand, the performance of the back line is by no means convincing. The own box was kept clean only three times in the total of 13 international matches in 2021. In the last three qualifying matches against their upcoming opponents they also conceded at least one goal.

The bottom line is that we consider the bookmakers’ odds on Chile vs. Venezuela to be disproportionate, as a win for the hosts is certainly not a clear-cut affair. Since odds of up to 1.45 are offered for a bet on the hosts, this option is in no way worth considering.

Predicted line-up of Chile:
Bravo – Isla, Maripan, Diaz, Vegas – Pulgar, Baeza – Sanchez, Vidal, Meneses – Mora

Last matches played by Chile:

Venezuela – Statistics & current form

The bookmakers are not expecting too much from the last-place team in the South American qualifiers, and rightly so. After all, 2021 have only recorded one win in the qualifiers (exactly the same number as their upcoming opponents).

But is the underdog really as without a chance as the odds suggest? In the case of Chile vs. Venezuela, a bet on the visitors is worth 11 times the stake in the event of success, a clear message from the providers

Always good for a goal in front

With at least one goal in each of the last three games, the “Vinotinto” attack can definitely be described as quick-witted. The recent victory over Ecuador, an opponent sometimes comparable to Chile, must also be highlighted.

On the road, however, things have not gone according to plan. The only sign of life was the test draw with Colombia.

Good performance.

Good memories of Chile

Already in the previous year, a surprising success was achieved against the “Roja”, can Machis and Co. repeat this feat? In any case, there has not yet been a major rejection in the current calendar year, as all games have been extremely close recently We are therefore of the opinion that the struggling Chileans can sometimes stand up to them.

Predicted line-up of Venezuela:
Farinez – Hernandez, Martinez, Ferraresi, Gonzalez – Martinez, Rincon – Bello, Peneranda, Machis, Ramires

Last matches played by Venezuela:

Chile – Venezuela Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

So far, the two nations have faced each other 28 times. With 20 wins, Chile is clearly ahead in the statistics, the outsider holds only three full victories.

However, one of those three victories came recently in the ongoing competition and, in general, Venezuela have been surprisingly accurate against the two-time Copa winners in World Cup qualifying. In fact, in their last eight encounters in this format, the underdogs have gone scoreless just twice.

Chile – Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Tipp

When it comes to conceding goals, both teams are used to a lot, as both keepers have to dig in behind them in almost every game So will we see a fast-paced exchange of blows on Thursday evening? We should certainly not rule out this scenario.

Although the bookmakers’ odds on Chile vs. Venezuela are all in favour of the home side, they have played far from convincing football in recent months and so we say: “It’s all open”. Home advantage is the hosts’ only great hope, as Vidal and co.’s own performances have been more than poor so far.

We think that between Chile and Venezuela, a bet on double chance X2 at odds of 3.o0 is worth the money. After all, this bet would have been successful in six of Chile’s seven qualifying matches so far. We are curious to see whether this pattern will continue.