Brazil will face Uruguay on November 20, 2024, in the 12th round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The game will test both teams’ resilience as they seek crucial points. Brazil, known as the “Pentacampeons,” will aim to recover from an inconsistent performance streak. Uruguay, led by Marcelo Bielsa, will look to maintain their competitive edge despite recent challenges.
Brazil has had a tough qualifying campaign. Under Fernando Diniz, they began with back-to-back wins but faltered with a draw against Venezuela and three consecutive defeats. Now under Dorival Junior, the team has shown flashes of improvement, beating Chile and Peru last month. However, they stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, despite opening the scoring.
In past meetings, Brazil had dominated Uruguay, winning 7 out of 8 matches before a 0-2 loss to the Charrúas last autumn. They also lost to Uruguay on penalties in the Copa America this summer after a goalless draw.
Uruguay’s Journey Under Bielsa
Uruguay started strong under Marcelo Bielsa, winning four of their first six matches, including a crucial victory against Argentina. However, internal tensions and inconsistent performances have affected the team’s momentum. Luis Suarez’s departure from the national team added to the challenges, with the striker openly criticizing Bielsa’s management style.
Recent results for Uruguay include a series of goalless draws and a 0-1 loss to Peru. In their last match against Colombia, Uruguay showed fighting spirit, securing a 3-2 victory with a late goal by Manuel Ugarte.
Key Statistics and Trends
- Brazil has won three of their last five matches.
- Uruguay secured only one win in their previous nine games.
- Brazil often scores between the 46th and 60th minutes, while Uruguay scores 46% of their goals between the 31st and 45th minutes.
- Brazil wins the first half in 35% of their matches, slightly ahead of Uruguay at 29%.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Brazil:
Ederson; Abner, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Vanderson; Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson; Vinícius Junior, Raphinha, Savio; Igor Jesus.
Uruguay:
Rochet; Saracchi, Olivera, Gimenez, Nandez; Valverde, Bentancur, Araújo, Pellistri, Aguirre; Nunez.
Head-to-Head Record
Brazil holds a strong record against Uruguay, with seven wins and a draw in their last eight meetings before recent setbacks. Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-0 in an away game last year and eliminated them from the Copa America via penalties.
Prediction for the Match
Brazil remains the favorite, especially as the host team. However, Uruguay’s unpredictability under Bielsa could pose a challenge. Analysts predict a high-scoring game, with a neutral bet on “total: over 2.0” goals, with odds of 1.62.
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