Uruguay Need Win Over Venezuela to Stay in Top Four Contention

Uruguay vs Venezuela - 02/02/2022

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We are rapidly approaching the conclusion of 2022 World Cup qualifying in South America and on the 2nd of February we have a meeting between Uruguay and Venezuela.

The match will be played at the Estadio Centenario, Montevideo and the hosts begin this round of fixtures in fifth place on 19 points with visitors bottom of the table and out of automatic qualifying contention on 10 points.

Uruguay come into the game on the back of a crucial 1-0 win in Paraguay. The only goal of the game was scored in the 50th minute and the victory was enough to move Uruguay 6 points clear of Paraguay in the table.

However, that was the first victory for Uruguay in their 6 most recent World Cup qualifying games.

They lost each of their 4 previous World Cup qualifying matches, tasting defeat at home against Argentina and away to Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia.All 4 matches were tough but Uruguay would have expected to pick up at least a point.

Home form shows Uruguay are difficult to beat when playing in-front of their own fans and they are undefeated in 4 of their last 5. The only 2 games they have lost in their 9 most recent home World Cup qualifying fixtures have come against Brazil and Argentina.

Trends show Uruguay have seen under 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 6 home World Cup qualifying matches.

Venezuela make the trip to the Estadio Centenario having picked up a good 4-1 home win over Bolivia last time out. They opened the scoring after 25 minutes and despite conceding a goal to make it 2-1 shortly before half-time, Venezuela came out and scored 2 additional goals in the second half.

That was the first victory in 4 World Cup qualifying fixtures for Venezuela having previously been defeated by Chile and Ecuador away and Peru at home, the latter of which was a disappointing result.

Away form in World Cup qualifying is poor and Venezuela have lost each of their last 7 fixtures on the road.

Conceding goals has been a problem and Venezuela have conceded in each of their last 7 away World Cup qualifying games, allowing 2 or more goals in 4 of those matches. Venezuela have failed to score a goal in 3 of their last 4 on the road.

Looking ahead to the team news and Uruguay are set to start with Luis Suárez up-front but Edinson Cavani will also be hoping to be in the team. Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde will play in midfield.

Venezuela can call upon the experience of Salomón Rondón in attack and he could start the game as a lone striker. That means Josef Martínez will have to start on the bench for the second game in succession.

Uruguay know they need a win to keep the pressure on the teams above them and could just do enough to take maximum points. We do not expect to see many goals in this game and Uruguay could come away with maximum points and a clean sheet.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

WCQ

Uruguay Venezuela 02/02/2022 00:00

442531

1

1 - 0

1.52

27°

1.30

1.30 4.50 13.00 no no no

FT

4 - 1(3 - 0)

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