Brazil take on the visitors Uruguay in the round 12 match of South America World Cup Qualification. The match will be played on Wednesday, November 20th at Estádio Fonte Nova (Salvador).
Brazil aiming to build momentum in autumn. The five-time world champions have struggled to showcase their traditional dominance in recent years. A year ago, under interim coach Fernando Diniz, Brazil experienced a disastrous run: after two wins in September, they drew with modest Venezuela and suffered three consecutive losses. In 2024, with Dorival Júnior at the helm, Brazil’s Copa América campaign was underwhelming. Despite entering the tournament as favorites, they managed only one group-stage victory (against Paraguay) and advanced to the playoffs with four points, only to be eliminated by Uruguay on penalties in the quarterfinals. This autumn, their performances remained inconsistent. After a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, Brazil fell to Paraguay by the same scoreline. November brought some relief with wins against Chile and Peru, but last week, they failed to capitalize against Venezuela, drawing 1-1 despite taking the lead. Brazil’s attack has been inconsistent, often relying on individual brilliance rather than cohesive team play.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Uruguay successfully qualified for the previous World Cup but failed to make a significant impact during the tournament. Ahead of the new cycle, they brought in Marcelo Bielsa as head coach, and he started the qualifiers strongly, including a win against Argentina a year ago. Uruguay performed respectably at the Copa América, eliminating Brazil en route to a third-place finish. However, their campaign was marred by controversy, including a heated semifinal loss to Colombia, followed by a post-match altercation with fans. They secured bronze by narrowly defeating Canada on penalties, with veteran Luis Suárez playing a key role in the comeback. Suárez, who retired after the tournament, publicly criticized Bielsa for allegedly dividing the squad. This turmoil, coupled with suspensions for key players, led to mixed results in September and October, including draws and a loss in Peru. Last week, however, Uruguay earned a dramatic 3-2 victory over Colombia at home, with Manuel Ugarte scoring the decisive goal in the 101st minute. Uruguay has found ways to compete against stronger teams, particularly in tightly contested matches, as shown against Colombia and Brazil earlier this year. Expect a cautious approach from Uruguay, which could frustrate Brazil, especially if the home side struggles to break through a compact defense.
Bielsa’s Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-0 a year ago and knocked them out on penalties in the Copa América quarterfinals. Prior to that, Brazil enjoyed a lengthy period of dominance in this rivalry. Brazil remains the favorite, but their performances under Dorival Júnior have not been entirely convincing. Uruguay, despite internal challenges, has shown resilience and tactical discipline under Bielsa.
Prediction for the match: Uruguay to win with +1.0 handicap.
