Colombia are out for revenge after last week's shocking 1-0 loss to Bolivia, as they prepare to host bottom-placed Chile in a crucial CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Despite the setback, Colombia remain second in the standings, benefiting from Uruguay’s loss, and sit just three points behind leaders Argentina.
Playing at home has been a strength for Colombia, who have collected 10 points from a possible 12 on home soil. Chile, however, are rooted at the bottom of the table and have struggled all year.
After a narrow 2-1 defeat to Brazil, they desperately need a response. Winless in their last six matches and without a victory over Colombia in their last four encounters, Chile face an uphill battle to turn things around.
Colombia have been one of South America's standout teams over the past year, showing exceptional form despite their recent slip-up away to Bolivia at high altitude. Nestor Lorenzo's side is still in a commanding position, with four wins, four draws and just a single defeat.
The return of Jhon Duran, who missed the Bolivia clash due to suspension, will be a welcome boost for the Colombians. With Roger Martinez sidelined after an early injury last Thursday, it creates a clear path for the Aston Villa star to slot back into the lineup as Colombia aim to continue their strong run.
COLOMBIA predicted lineup vs CHILE: Vargas (GK); S Arias, Mina, Lucumi, Borja; Uribe, Lerma, Rios; James, Duran, Diaz.
Chile have been a shadow of their former selves this year, desperately seeking a revival as their hopes for the 2026 World Cup fade with every match. With only five points from nine games, La Roja find themselves at the bottom of the table, and the possibility of missing out on a third consecutive World Cup looms large.
Despite a struggling campaign, there were signs of life on Thursday when Felipe Loyola, Mauricio Isla's replacement at right-back, set up Eduardo Vargas's goal. However, the team remains weakened by the absence of key players like Alexis Sanchez, sidelined since his return to Udinese, along with Matias Catalan and Vicente Pizarro.
Time is running out for Chile, and if they’re to salvage their World Cup dream, the resurgence must happen now.
CHILE predicted lineup vs COLOMBIA: Cortes (GK); Loyola, Kuscevic, Maripan, Galdames; Valdes, Pavez, Echeverria; Osorio, Davila, Vargas.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay face a pivotal moment as they look to shake off off-field distractions and bounce back from last week’s shocking defeat when they host Ecuador in Montevideo on Tuesday.
Uruguay’s surprise 1-0 loss to Peru has thrown the race for World Cup qualification wide open, allowing rival nations to close in. Meanwhile, Ecuador extended their impressive run with another strong performance, keeping them right in the hunt.
Now, with Uruguay sitting third and Ecuador just three points behind in fifth, the battle for a top spot is on. Both sides know that this clash could determine who will join Argentina and Colombia at the top of the CONMEBOL standings. The stakes couldn’t be higher!
Marcelo Bielsa’s troubles seem to deepen as Uruguay remain winless in their last four games, sparking whispers that he's lost the dressing room since their painful Copa America exit to Colombia. The team’s spirit appears fractured, and the pressure on Bielsa has reached boiling point.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope. In a dramatic twist, Darwin Núñez is cleared to play, despite his suspension after the infamous chaos against Colombia. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has temporarily lifted the ban pending an appeal, giving Uruguay a much-needed boost in attack.
While Rodrigo Bentancur still has one more game on his ban, Uruguay can breathe a bit easier with the return of defensive stalwarts José María Giménez, Matías Olivera, and Ronald Araújo after serving their suspensions.
The question is, can Bielsa rally his troops before it’s too late?
URUGUAY predicted lineup vs ECUADOR: Rochet (GK); Varela, Gimenez, Bueno, Olivera; Ugarte, Valverde, De Arrascaeta; Pellistri, Nunez, M Araujo.
Ecuador find themselves just one point behind the mighty Brazil, sitting fifth in the qualification table and firmly in the race for a World Cup spot. With four wins, three draws, and only two losses in nine games, La Tri have proven to be formidable challengers. They’ve gone unbeaten in their last two qualifiers, keeping clean sheets, including a hard-fought goalless draw at home against Paraguay on Thursday.
Star forward Enner Valencia will be supported by Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo, who, at just 22, is set to earn his 50th cap – a remarkable feat for such a young player.
Despite leaving 10 players out from the previous squad, coach Sebastián Beccacece still has an impressive array of talent at his disposal, with key players like Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho, and Pervis Estupiñán all fit and ready to go. The stage is set for Ecuador to make a real statement in Montevideo.
ECUADOR predicted lineup vs URUGUAY: Galindez (GK); Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Preciado, Franco, Caicedo, Estupinan; Plata, Valencia, Paez.
