Uruguay v Brazil Betting: Old foes to go down to the wire

The top two in CONMEBOL qualifying meet in Montevideo where both sides will be looking to continue their impressive respective runs of form.

Brazil sit four points clear of Uruguay after six successive qualifying wins during which time they have conceded just a solitary goal.

Keeping that momentum going however will be far from easy in the Uruguayan capital where La Celeste have been extremely strong. Oscar Tabarez' men have won their last eight home qualifiers conceding just three time in the process, with the two-time World Cup winners unbeaten at home in qualifying for 14 games - a sequence that stretches back to 2009.

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It should be a fascinating encounter therefore at the Estadio Centenario and Paddy Power who are live streaming the game for UK based customers make the visitors favorites at 11/8 (2.37). Uruguay for their part can be backed at 2/1 (3.00)while the draw is offered at 23/10 (3.30).

The last time these two sides met in Recife almost exactly a year ago, Brazil raced into a 2-0 lead only to be pegged back by goals from Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez who ensured a 2-2 draw for Uruguay.

La Celeste will be missing Suarez who is suspended for the game, yet his absence will allow Cavani to play the more central forward role that he prefers and the PSG striker has been in excellent scoring form.

Not only is Cavani the leading marksman in League 1 with 27 strikes, he is also the top scorer in the CONMEBOL qualifying tournament with eight goals. The PSG forward is offered at just 5/6 (1.83)to score at anytime, while a goal for Cavani and a win for Uruguay is offered at 3/1 (4.00).

Goal

While Uruguay are missing Luis Suarez, Brazil will be without Gabriel Jesus, and the Manchester City forward has come to be an integral part of Tite's Brazil side. Roberto Firminho is likley to take his place, and while it is not a like for like replacement exactly, Tite will be hoping Firminho can use his understanding with Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho to good effect. 

As previously mentioned the sides' defensive records are impressive, yet despite the absences up front the strength of their attacking capabilites means backing goals makes sense, and while both teams to score at 4/6 (1.65)does not appeal overly there could be a strong argument to be made for backing over 2.5 goals at evens (2.00).

Brazil have scored in each of their last 11 qualifiers, eight of which have seen at least three goals, while this selection has also paid out in nine of Uruguay's last 11 qualifiers.