The CONMEBOL qualification for the World Cup has been going on for almost two years now after its start back in October 2015. It’s an arduous campaign and the toughest of all the FIFA Confederations to get out of successfully. There is a huge showdown in Montevideo this weekend with Uruguay v Argentina taking centre stage. Aside from Brazil, who have already qualified for the 2018 World Cup, the other three automatic qualification places are still wide open. Here, third placed Uruguay take on fifth placed Argentina and only a point separates them. The top four from the table goes to Russia 2018 while the fifth placed side goes to an inter-confederation play off. This should be good and Argentina are 5/4 favourites at Coral to win this game, with Uruguay 11/5 at home.
Uruguay Form:
Uruguay had a miserable summer, losing 3-1 in Ireland and 3-0 in Italy in friendly matches. That, more importantly though, was on top of a three match losing streak they had put together in World Cup qualification prior to that. So while they weren’t at full strength in those friendlies, consecutive defeats against Chile, Brazil and Peru in Russia 2018 qualification was serious and undid their great start. However, if you look solely at their home form in games, they have gone W6 L1 in their seven home games with six clean sheets in qualification. They will be missing Luis Suarez through injury though.
Argentina Form:
Argentia have a W6 D4 L4 record in qualification so far and remarkably they are the lowest scores of the top seven sides going into the next round of matches. They have managed just 15 goals in 14 games and when you can boost the firepower that they can like Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, then it suggests that all is not well with Albiceleste. This is no easy away game for them. Over the summer they played a couple of friendly games, beating Brazil and Singapore without being at full strength. Back to the World Cup campaign, they have won just three of their last eight played (D2 L3) so are not running hot. They have lost their last two away games in qualification against Brazil and Bolivia without scoring. They are winless in four on the road.
Head to Head News:
Argentina did win the previous group fixture against Uruguay, taking a 1-0 win back in September last year against them thanks to Lionel Messi. They have lost just one of their last seven against Uruguay now (W5 D1 L1) and three of their last four victories over them have been by a 1-0 scoreline only. Argentina lost their last World Cup qualifier in Uruguay, going down 3-2 back in 2013.
Top Betting Tips:
Uruguay are being underestimated for this one. Yes, their form in qualification dipped, but that was out on the road and they have proven in the campaign that they have home strengths. Argentina seems more scared of defeat than they are looking forward to winning and there’s something off with them, highlighted by their four -atch winless streak (D2 L2) away from home in qualification. Uruguay are more than strong enough to pick up a point in this one. A draw looks likely here.