Bolivia v Uruguay betting tips: La Celeste aim to get off mark at Copa America
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Uruguay are still searching for their first win of the group stage ahead of their clash with Bolivia who have lost both games and look likely to miss out on the Copa America quarter-finals.
Bolivia face Argentina after Thursday’s clash with Uruguay and, with four of the five nations from the two groups qualifying for the last eight, only a win will suffice in Cuiaba.
They are 14/1 to spring a surprise but let’s look at some of the other markets in our Bolivia v Uruguay betting tips.
Match Odds
Uruguay have played the two toughest teams in the group but picked up just one point from their games against Argentina and Chile.
Luis Suarez’s equaliser against Chile midway through the second half secured a point for La Celeste, who have won eight of their 12 meetings with Bolivia since the turn of the century.
The last six have generally been high-scoring affairs with at least four goals in five of those matches, so we go 13/8 on over 3.5 or Uruguay to win by that method is 19/10.
Uruguay came out on top by two-goal margins in their previous two encounters and are 27/10 to do so again and won from behind in a 4-2 victory in their last clash four years ago.
Bolivia led at half-time in their 3-1 defeat by Paraguay, so we make Uruguay 9/1 to win from behind or it’s 25/1 on La Roja to be in front at the break only to lose.
Uruguay’s failure to beat Chile means they are now winless in five which included 0-0 draws with Venezuela and Paraguay in World Cup qualifying and another share of the spoils is priced at 24/5.
That said, Bolivia have lost seven of their last 10 games but scored and conceded in eight of those matches so we make both teams to score 27/20 or Uruguay to win and goals at both ends at 23/10.
Talking Tactics
Uruguay had the best of the chances against Chile so head coach Oscar Tabarez could stick with the diamond formation in a 4-3-1-2 in which Giorgian de Arrascaeta played just behind Edinson Cavani and Suarez.
Jose Maria Gimenez should partner veteran central defender Diego Godin at the back in front of 35-year-old keeper Fernando Muslera.
Bolivia coach Cesar Farias, who welcomes back Jaume Cuellar from suspension following his dismissal against Paraguay, deployed a 3-5-2 in that game but switched to 4-4-2 in a heavily-rotated starting XI in the 1-0 defeat by Chile.
Goalscorer Odds
Suarez’s equaliser was originally credited as an Arturo Vidal own goal but now the Atletico Madrid striker is off the mark he can be backed at 23/10 to break the deadlock, 8/11 to score or 16/5 to bag at least a double as he did in the 4-2 win against Bolivia four years ago.
Cavani was also on target in the same game and is 12/5 to net the opener or 3/4 to get on the scoresheet while De Arrascaeta had a couple of shots on target against Chile and is 11/2 and 21/10 in the same markets.
Erwin Saavedra scored Bolivia’s only goal of the tournament from the penalty spot and is 28/1 to open the scoring or 9/1 to find the net.
Match Info
Where: Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
When: 22:00, Thursday 24th June
How to watch: BBC iPlayer
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
