Bolivia vs Paraguay Preview: Team News & Prediction
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One of the form teams in CONMEBOL qualifying, Paraguay travel to the high altitude of El Alto to take on Bolivia after taking the scalp of world champions Argentina last week
Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 19th November, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Fanatiz
Bolivia Preview: Two heavy defeats on the bounce
After a memorable three-game winning run in qualifying over the course of September and October, Bolivia have been given a reality check since then, conceding ten goals in defeats to Argentina and Ecuador in their last two outings, but they remain in the hunt for one of the qualifying spaces.
Oscar Villegas' team have, however, won their last three CONMEBOL qualifiers at home without conceding, and given their historic troubles on the road, their results at altitude will be key if they are to muscle themselves into a World Cup spot.
Paraguay Preview: Five unbeaten after Argentina victory
An excellent 2-1 win over world champions and back-to-back Copa America winners Argentina extended Paraguay's unbeaten run in qualifying to five games, which is currently the longest active unbeaten streak amongst the South American nations.
If Gustavo Alfaro's men are to avoid defeat here, it would constitute their longest run without defeat in the CONMEBOL section since qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Bolivia Team News: Sagredo suspended
Owing to his first-half red card against last week, centre-back Jose Sagredo will miss out through suspension. Sebastian Alvarez or Luis Haquin could step in to the starting line-up, although the latter wasn't named among the substitutes against Ecuador.
Villegas could make other alterations in response to the defeat, and indeed he made three changes at half-time in Guayaquil so he has form for shaking things up.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Viscarra; Rocha, Morales, Alvarez, Vaca; Villamil, Cuellar; Sotomayor, Terrazas, Lopez; Monteiro
UNAVAILABLE: Sagredo (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
Paraguay Team News: Could be unchanged
The Paraguay starting line-up is likely to have a far more settled feel to it as Alfaro will see little need to change things around given his players' performance against Argentina.
The likes of Ramon Sosa and Isidro Pitta will be considered but bench roles are more likely once again for the attacking pair.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Fernandez; Velazquez, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; D. Gomez, Cubas, Bobadilla, Almiron; Enciso, Sanabria
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
Key Stats
- Bolivia have won their last three World Cup qualifying matches at home without conceding a goal.
- Bolivia have won their last five World Cup qualifying matches at home against Paraguay. Overall, they have lost only one of their previous ten qualifying matches against Paraguay in Bolivia (W6 D3).
- Bolivia are aiming to win five matches in a World Cup qualifying campaign for the first time since the 1994 edition.
- None of Bolivia’s last 22 World Cup qualifying matches have finished level. Their last draw in a qualifying match was at home against Colombia in September 2021 (D 1-1).
- Paraguay are unbeaten in their last five World Cup qualifying matches (W3 D2).
- Paraguay are aiming to win three successive World Cup qualifying matches for the first time since 2009.
- Paraguay have not conceded more than one goal in any of their previous 11 matches in the current qualifying campaign.
- Paraguay are without a win in their last 13 World Cup qualifying matches away from home (D6 L7). Since a 1-0 victory in Venezuela in October 2020.
- Paraguay have not scored a goal in their last 12 World Cup qualifying matches away from home. Since a 1-1 draw against Argentina in November 2020.
Bolivia vs Paraguay Prediction
Off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Ecuador, which followed a 6-0 humbling at Argentina last month, it seems as if normal service has resumed for Bolivia after a promising run of three straight wins, and they really need to get back on track here against the team who currently occupy the final automatic World Cup qualifying spot.
However, Paraguay - four points ahead of their opponents - are full of confidence at the moment having seen off the challenge of section leaders Argentina last week. If they deliver a similar performance here, they look capable of coming away with a valuable three points.
Bolivia vs Paraguay Tip: Paraguay to win
