Bolivia vs Colombia prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-10-09 20:00.
[p]After enjoying the high life of a 4-0 victory at 4150 metres above sea level in their first game at the Estadio Municipal de El Alto against Venezuela last month, Bolivia will return to the venue to target a fourth successive home victory when they take on Colombia. The hosts come into this fixture in eighth place in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, but only two points behind Ecuador in fourth, so a first appearance at a FIFA World Cup since 1994 is a real possibility.[/p]
[p]La Verde followed up that thrashing of Venezuela with an historic 2-1 win in Chile which ended a run of 67 World Cup qualifiers without an away victory – a record streak which began in August 1993! Plenty of credit needs to be given to new manager Ă“scar Villegas, who in July inherited a team that had lost 21 of their previous 25 matches (W3, D1) and had just endured their fourth consecutive Copa AmĂ©rica without picking up a point![/p]
[p]In the same tournament, Colombia reached the final only to suffer extra-time heartbreak against Argentina, but after picking up four points from their two World Cup qualifiers since, have extended their unbeaten run over 90 minutes to 31 games (W23, D8). Across those matches, they have seen off Bolivia twice courtesy of 3-0 victories and with no defeats across the last 13 H2Hs (W10, D3), it would be a surprise if both unbeaten streaks were not extended on Thursday.[/p]
[p]NĂ©stor Lorenzo brings his side to Bolivia off the back of a 2-1 revenge win over leaders Argentina in Barranquilla last month, a result which sees Colombia sit second in the qualifying group. They will even reach the summit of the table, perhaps only briefly, with three points in El Alto, and after missing out on Qatar 2022, appear well placed to return to the World Cup finals in 2026.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Miguelito scored in both of Bolivia’s wins in September, and with his only other appearance coming in November’s victory over Peru, has a 100% record in this qualifying campaign. Luis DĂaz has got a goal and an assist in both of his last two H2Hs against Bolivia, and was also on the scoresheet in Colombia’s last away game.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: No side has scored more than one goal across Colombia’s last ten away World Cup qualifiers (W2, D6, L2).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]