Second-placed Uruguay will head to Estadio Monumental de Maturin for a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match against fifth-placed Venezuela. Both teams are coming off disappointing performances. On September 5th, Venezuela suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to bottom-placed Bolivia, which allowed the Bolivians to climb to 8th place with 6 points. Venezuela's defense was too exposed, and their attack was wasteful, as they missed several clear scoring chances.
Venezuela will be eager to return to home soil, where they've secured seven points from three matches and kept clean sheets in all of them against Paraguay, Chile, and Ecuador.
Two days later, on September 7th, Uruguay hosted Paraguay, currently in 7th place, and the match ended in a goalless draw for both teams. The game ended in a 0-0 stalemate at home against Paraguay, where they struggled to make an impact, managing only one shot on target throughout the match.
Despite this, under manager Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay have only lost once in their last 10 matches across all competitions. However, Uruguay will be without several key players due to injuries and suspensions.
This upcoming clash is crucial for both sides and promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Venezuela will be eager to bounce back home after their heavy 4-0 defeat to Bolivia in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite having 43% possession and 12 attempts on goal with 3 on target.
Unfortunately, Venezuela faces some setbacks. Key players Jhon Chancellor and Yangel Herrera remain sidelined, having withdrawn before the loss to Bolivia. Additionally, Toulouse midfielder Cristian Casseres is suspended for one match due to two yellow cards.
On the bright side, Venezuela has a strong home record, remaining unbeaten in their last six home matches. Veteran striker Jose Salomon Rondon, formerly of Everton, continues to be a vital asset. At 34, Rondon remains a sharp, versatile forward, capable of scoring with both feet and finishing clinically in the box.
VENEZUELA predicted lineup vs URUGUAY: Romo (GK); Aramburu, Ferraresi, Osorio, Navarro; Segovia, Martinez, Pereira; Machis, Soteldo, Rondon.
In their last match, Uruguay was held to a goalless draw against Paraguay in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite dominating with 65% possession and registering 11 shots, they managed just one on target.
Uruguay will be without Luis Suárez, who played his final game for the national team in the previous fixture. Additionally, they are missing several key players due to suspensions. Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Darwin Nunez are all sidelined following an incident with spectators after the Copa America semi-final against Colombia.
However, Uruguay still boasts attacking talent capable of causing problems for Venezuela. Facundo Pellistri, Brian Rodriguez, and Luciano Rodriguez are expected to provide the offensive spark needed to score against Venezuela.
URUGUAY predicted lineup vs VENEZUELA: Rochet (GK); Rodriguez, Bueno, Cacares, Olaza; Martinez, Ugarte, B. Rodriguez; Pellistri, Araujo, L. Rodriguez.
Venezuela has had a mixed bag of results in their last ten competitive games, with 5 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws. However, their recent form has been concerning, as they’ve failed to secure a win in their last three matches and struggled to find the net in 3 of their last 7 outings.
On the other hand, Uruguay has been in formidable shape, boasting 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw in their last ten competitive fixtures. They’ve been prolific in front of goal, scoring 2 or more goals in 5 of their last 7 matches. Defensively, Uruguay has been solid, keeping 4 clean sheets during that stretch. This strong form positions them as a formidable opponent for Venezuela.
If Venezuela have a good day, given Uruguay's key suspensions - they can take one point from this match.
