Bolivia Vs Colombia
Bolivia Vs Colombia Thursday 2 September, 2021 – 21:00 (BST)
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 31 August 2021)
Preview: CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying resumes following a fifteen month hiatus. The action gets underway in La Paz on Thursday with Bolivia hosting Colombia, the latter seeking their sixth consecutive victory – and third away from home – in meetings between the two nations.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Bolivia – Can hosts put disappointing summer behind them?
La Verde are still in contention to reach their first World Cup finals for 28 years, despite them averaging less than a point per game through their first six qualifiers (W1 D2 L3). Cesar Farias’ team sit eighth of ten, three points shy of fourth-placed Uruguay and automatic qualification for next year’s main event in Qatar. Their sole win thus far the 3-1 scoreline in La Paz against a Venezuela side second from bottom.
Prior to this campaign, Bolivia were unbeaten in five home World Cup qualifiers (W3 D2) which included memorable outcomes against both Argentina (2-0) and Brazil (0-0). They have already succumbed to two losses in three such outings, though, after losing narrowly to Ecuador (2-3) and Argentina (1-2), and will be coming off a wretched Copa America tournament in which they lost all four encounters.
Key Stat: All but one of six Bolivian 2022 World Cup Qualifiers have seen both teams find the back of the net.
Colombia – Copa America exploits to serve as catalyst?
A third place finish at this summer’s Copa America represented a decent achievement for Colombia, considering they weren’t the most impressive sides. In reaching the semi-finals Los Cafeteros plundered a mere four goals in six games, before nearly doubling said tally in one foul swoop in the third-place play-off. Luis Diaz’s stunning long-range strike sealing a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Peru.
Now, attentions turn to securing an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup qualification. They are well placed to do so under Reinaldo Rueda, who has them level on points (W2 D2 L2) with fourth-placed Uruguay ahead of a triple-header with Bolivia, Paraguay and Chile. Responding admirably to last November’s 6-1 defeat in Ecuador by taking four of the next six points against Peru (0-3) and Argentina (2-2).
Key Stat: All six 2022 World Cup qualifiers involving Colombia have so far gone Over 2.5 Goals, with Los Cafeteros only failing to score in the 3-0 loss at home to Uruguay.
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Bolivia Vs Colombia Betting Advice
If all stays true to form, we could be in for an entertaining match up in the Bolivian capital of La Paz. Both the teams in question have a reliable strike rate thus far. Bolivia have scored at least once in all but one of six qualifying matches to date, resulting in Both Teams to Score landing on five occasions. Meanwhile Colombia have also notched in five out of six matches, with all six qualifies seeing Over 2.5 Goals land.
Bolivia Vs Colombia – Key Facts:
- Colombia (W2 D2 L2) sit fifth in the standings in the race for South American World Cup qualifying, acquiring three more points after six matches than Bolivia (W1 D2 L3).
- All of the past five meetings resulted in a victory for Colombia. Los Cafeteros emerging triumphant the last two times in Bolivia despite conceding on each occasion.
- There has been an average of 3.83 goals scored in Bolivia’s World Cup qualifiers this campaign, a near identical tally to that of Colombia (4).
When choosing a potential winner of this contest though, it is difficult to see past Colombia. Los Cafeteros are seeking a sixth straight victory over Bolivia since 2011. The latter’s most recent taste of victory, meanwhile, being a 4-0 home win in September 2003. Colombia have since gone unbeaten through ten subsequent meetings, winning eight. With each of their last two wins here in La Paz, in 2011 and 2016, seing them concede.
Best Betting Odds – Bolivia Vs Colombia
Bolivia – 11/4
Draw – 9/4
Colombia – Evens
(All odds shown taken from Betfair)
