Two teams with confirmed spots in the Copa America quarter-finals lock horns as Brazil welcomes Colombia. The match schedules for Thursday at the Estadio Nilton Santos, with kickoff at 3 am.
Brazil is leading the group standings after picking two wins in their opening games, followed by their opponents, who come off a 2-1 loss to Peru.
Brazil remains favorites to defend their Copa America title and lift the trophy for the ninth time. Their Copa America campaign started with a 3-0 win over Venezuela, with Marquinhos netting the goal with Neymar doubling the lead and Gabriel Barbosa finishing off the win.
Moreover, there were no signs of slowing down in their second match with a 4-0 thrashing of Peru in Rio De Janeiro. The win makes it nine wins in their last nine matches in all competitions. A win this Thursday will confirm their finish at the top of the group and a spot in the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, Colombia has a long way to go even though they sit second in the group. The side opened their Copa America campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Ecuador in Cuiaba.
Furthermore, the side picked up four points in their opening three matches. A disappointing result came in their 1-1 draw to Venezuela. There is much to improve for Reinaldo Rueda.
Brazil vs. Colombia Head to Head
Both sides have 12 games against each other, with Brazil taking five wins while Colombia with one win. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Brazil 4-0 Peru
- Brazil 3-0 Venezuela
- Paraguay 0-2 Brazil
- Brazil 2-0 Ecuador
- Uruguay 0-2 Brazil
Away
- Colombia 1-2 Peru
- Colombia 0-0 Venezuela
- Peru 0-3 Colombia
- Colombia 1-0 Ecuador
- Ecuador 6-0 Colombia
Brazil Team News
Given the squad depth, we expect another rotation in the starting lineup to pave the way for new talents. Therefore, Richarlison, Casemiro, and Marquinhos are likely to return to the fold this Thursday. However, Neymar will retain his position up top with two goals and an assist so far in the competition.
Colombia Team News
The attacking options have been unimpressive so far in the competition; therefore, we expect a change from Rueda. We might see the return of Atalanta attacker Luis Muriel at the expense of Borja, Zapata, and Edwin Cardona.
Prediction and Odds
Brazil is currently beaming with confidence, and we can’t expect an inconsistent Colombia to change things up.
- Brazil Win
- Goals Under 2.5
- Neymar to Score
