Overview
It’s time to make some FIFA World Cup qualifiers predictions, as the final window of CONMEBOL qualifying gets underway on Thursday. One of the matchups on Thursday features Brazil hosting Chile.
While Brazil has already qualified, they would like to maintain their position at the top of the group. Meanwhile, the Chileans have a lot of work ahead of them in order to get to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Last Game Records
These teams met earlier during the qualifying process, with Brazil winning 1-0 in Chile last September. The Brazilians also beat La Roja 1-0 during last summer’s Copa America. In fact, Brazil has defeated Chile four times in the last five meetings between these two nations since 2015.
The 1-0 win for Brazil last September was also the first match in a nine-match unbeaten run for the Brazilians. They have six wins and three draws during that stretch, including a 4-0 win over Paraguay in their last match of the previous international window.
The Chileans are also coming off a win in their last game, beating Bolivia 3-2 in early February. But including friendly matches, Chile has just two wins in its last five matches.
Matchup Information
- 7:30 pm EST on Thursday, March 24, 2022
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Estadio do Maracana
Brazil vs Chile Betting Analysis
Brazil Betting Analysis
The pressure is completely off the Brazilians, who have secured a spot at the 2022 World Cup with three matches left in CONMEBOL qualifying. As mentioned, they are rocking a nine-match unbeaten run.
In fact, they have 12 wins and just three draws in 15 qualifying matches this cycle, although they only have a four-point lead over Argentina at the top of the standings with three matches left to play.
In those 15 qualifying matches, Brazil has scored 32 goals, which is more than any other South American team during qualifying. The Brazilians should have plenty of firepower with Neymar and his 70 career international goals. However, the rest of the roster is a little green, as no other player on the roster has ten international goals to their name outside of Philippe Coutinho, as promising Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is still searching for his first international goal.
Of course, Brazil has also been the best defensive team in South America during the current cycle. They have allowed just five goals in 15 matches during the qualifying process to this point.
The Brazilians are led by two world-class goalies in Alisson and Ederson, while aging defenders Thiago Silva and Dani Alves are still anchoring the backline.
Chile Betting Analysis
As mentioned, Chile has a lot of work to do in order to get to the World Cup later this year. La Roja is currently in sixth place, three points behind fourth-place Uruguay for a guaranteed spot in the World Cup and two points behind Peru for a spot in an inter-continental playoff.
That means the Chileans need to collect as many points as possible over their final two matches and get a little help.
After a stretch of three straight wins in October and November, the Chileans have lost two of their last three qualifying matches. Even worse, after keeping a clean sheet in those three wins, Chile has conceded two goals in each of its last three matches.
The silver lining is the Chileans have an experienced backline that’s led by Gary Medel and Mauricio Isla, who have a combined 277 international appearances.
At the same time, the Chileans have only scored 19 goals in 16 qualifying matches. The three goals they scored during their 3-2 win over Bolivia in February is a good sign, although they have just five total goals in their last four qualifying matches.
They are also relying on aging strikers Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas as their most reliable and proven goal scorers at the international level.
Updates
There are no noteworthy omissions from Chile’s roster for the upcoming set of qualifying matches. The Chileans are largely healthy, although they are relying on an older set of players.
As for Brazil, they have brought in some younger, less experienced players for this window. Noteworthy players who are not on the roster include Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Alex Sandro, Miranda, and Hulk.
- Since 2015, all five matches between these teams have ended with only one team scoring.
- Brazil has kept a clean sheet six times in its last nine matches.
- Chile has conceded two goals in three consecutive matches.
- Brazil has scored one goal or less in five of its last nine matches.
- Chile has scored five goals in its last four qualifying matches.
Brazil vs Chile Betting Preview
Motivation is always an important factor this late in World Cup Qualifying. Brazil has been far better and more consistent throughout qualifying, although the Brazilians have little reason to be motivated other than playing at home and being able to keep Chile out of the World Cup.
On the other hand, the Chileans have the pressure of needing a win to keep their World Cup hopes alive, giving the aging players from their golden generation all of the motivation they need to get a favorable result.
Brazil vs Chile Betting Prediction
Despite a lack of motivation for Brazil, betting guides are still listing the Brazilians as clear home favorites in this match. They have a moneyline of -240, while sports betting guides list Chile with a moneyline of +640. The moneyline for a draw is set at +340.
Even if Brazil has nothing on the line, they are the superior team in this matchup, and their players always know that they have to play hard and fight for their spot.
That should be enough to keep Chile from pulling off a surprising upset, as the Chileans have rarely fared well on Brazilian soil.
While a draw has some value, Brazil hasn’t lost or tied a game as the designated home team since March 2016, so there is every reason to think that the Brazilians will be victorious over Chile on Thursday, even if the Chileans are playing for their World Cup lives.
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