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October 14 2024, 16:01 · Trystan Pugh

Colombia vs Chile Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL)

Colombia vs Chile Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL)

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Colombia lost their unbeaten run in CONMEBOL qualifying last week but they have an opportunity to bounce back against a forlorn Chile side.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 15th October, 2024: UK – 9:30pm / US ET – 4:30pm / US PT – 1:30pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – bet365 / US – Fanatiz

COLOMBIA PREVIEW: UNBEATEN RUN ENDED BY BOLIVIA

Colombia fell to their first defeat in qualifying last week when in-form Bolivia recorded a 1-0 victory in the high altitude of El Alto, despite the fact that the hosts were a man down for the majority of the match.

Nestor Lorenzo's side remain in second place though, given that Uruguay failed to win their own fixture, while they are only three points behind first-placed Argentina, who also dropped points in October's first round of games. The hosts can, temporarily at least, go top of the CONMEBOL section should they win handsomely here.

CHILE PREVIEW: ANOTHER DEFEAT LEAVES THEM BOTTOM OF THE PILE

There was more misery for Chile last week, who now sit bottom the qualifying table following an agonising late defeat to a less-than-convincing Brazil outfit.

Despite going ahead within a couple of minutes against the Selecao, Chile were ultimately left empty-handed in Santiago after Luiz Enrique's 89th-minute winner for the visitors. That is now four straight qualifying defeats; another here and it would be their worst losing streak in qualifying for over 20 years.

COLOMBIA TEAM NEWS: DURAN AVAILABLE

After suspension kept him out of the defeat to Bolivia, Jhon Duran is available for this one and can be expected to start given his impressive club form for Aston Villa this season.

Lorenzo will be tempted to shake things up elsewhere after the energy-sapping defeat in the tough Bolivian conditions.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Vargas; S. Arias, Mina, Sanchez, Borja; Uribe, Lerma, Rios; James, Duran, Diaz

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE: Martinez (Injured)

CHILE TEAM NEWS: POTENTIALLY UNCHANGED

Given that there was at least some improvement in performance in the Brazil defeat, head coach Ricardo Gareca could stick with the same side here, although that is partly because he is limited with his options.

National team legend Alexis Sanchez is not part of the squad for October's qualifiers due to injury.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Cortes; Loyola, Kuscevic, Maripan, Galdames; Pavez, Echeverria; Osorio, Valdes, Davila; Vargas

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

KEY STATS

  • Seven of the last nine international matches between these two teams have finished level.
  • Five of the last six World Cup qualifying matches between Colombia and Chile finished level.
  • Colombia have lost only two of their last 13 World Cup qualifying matches against Chile (W4 D7).
  • Colombia have lost only one of their previous eight home World Cup qualifying matches against Chile (W4 D3).
  • Colombia have won four and drawn one of their last five World Cup qualifying matches at home.
  • Colombia have lost only one of their last 11 World Cup qualifying matches at home.
  • Colombia’s defeat against Bolivia ended their ten-match unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifying (W6 D4).
  • Chile have won only one of their last 11 World Cup qualifying matches (D2 L8).
  • Chile have lost their last four World Cup qualifying matches.
  • Chile have won only two of their last 19 World Cup qualifying matches away from home (D3 L14).

COLOMBIA VS CHILE PREDICTION

Despite defeat to Bolivia last week, Colombia boss Nestor Lorenzo will be hoping that was nothing but a blip in what has otherwise been a strong qualifying campaign for the Copa America runners-up. Indeed, their home form has been incredibly strong having not lost on their own patch since January 2022.

There were some signs of life from bottom-side Chile against Brazil last week, but they had nothing to show for it and morale is clearly going to be damaged heading into this contest. Their World Cup qualifying hopes are looking increasingly bleak and a defeat to nil here looks on the cards.

COLOMBIA VS CHILE TIP: COLOMBIA TO WIN TO NIL