Peru vs Chile predictions: High stakes could add up to close call
- Peru are two-time Copa America winners, triumphant in 1939 and 1975
- Chile's Copa America successes were back-to-back in 2015 and 2016
- Recommended bet: Draw
Group A rivals Peru and Chile are fully aware of the importance of their Copa America showdown in Arlington, Texas.
In a group which Argentina are expected to win and Canada are priced to prop up, this already looks like a match crucial in the battle for second place and a quarter-final spot.
Team news
Peru are likely to be shaped in a 3-5-2 formation with former Eintracht Frankfurt favourite Carlos Zambrano at the heart of the back three.
Bryan Reyna has returned to training after a knock and should partner Cagliari's ex-AC Milan striker Gianluca Lapadula in attack.
Claudio Bravo, the 41-year-old ex-Manchester City keeper, is expected to wear the gloves for Chile 20 years after his international debut.
Another veteran, 36-year-old Mauricio Isla, should feature in a back four in a 4-2-3-1 set-up which would see Alexis Sanchez operate behind Eduardo Vargas.
The stats
None of the last 20 fixtures between these great South American rivals has ended in a draw.
Peru are bottom of the Conmebol World Cup qualification table with just two points from six matches.
La Rojiblanca have failed to score in five of their six games.
Chile, now coached by former Peru boss Ricardo Gareca, have only won one of their six World Cup qualifiers, 2-0 against Peru in Santiago.
Jorge Fassati's Peru are unbeaten in their last five internationals.
Prediction
Victory for Chile or Peru would go a long, long way towards making it through to the quarter-finals of the Copa America.
Defeat, however, and with champions and favourites Argentina still to play, could prove catastrophic.
To that end, expect a close-fought, tense affair between two sides who may err on the side of caution. This could easily end all-square.
Chile are the clear 10/11 favourites with LiveScore Bet for this tie at the AT&T Stadium, doubtless as much to do with the fact they beat Peru 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier as recently as October.
But that was in Santiago and neither side has won another match in World Cup qualifying, which suggests there is far less between these two than the prices imply.
Indeed, Peru are actually ranked five places higher than their opponents and are unbeaten in four matches under new coach Jorge Fossati.
The presence of Ricardo Gareca, a legend in Peru where he spent seven years at the helm, in the Chile dug-out should also inspire La Rojiblanca, who have enough about them to at the very least avoid defeat.
This Chile squad is ageing, and quite possibly going over the top, and Peru have nothing to fear.
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