Colombia – Venezuela SOCCER PICKS
Venezuela and Colombia meet at Sun Life Stadium, in a friendly match. This is the 1st friendly match of the year for Venezuela. In the case of Colombia, this is their 4th friendly of the year, after having already faced Egypt, Australia and France. The record of recent direct confrontations between these two teams could not be more balanced, since there was 1 draw and 1 win for each team in the last 3 matches they played. The last direct confrontation between these two teams, on 31-08-2017, ended with a draw by (0-0). Colombia presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor, so in this game the home factor may be decisive.
Venezuela:
This will be the first friendly match of the year for the home team, who played 3 last year. In these friendlies it registered the following results: Venezuela (0-1) Iran, Ecuador (1-1) Venezuela and the United States (1-1) Venezuela. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive level in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 3 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses in away matches; against 3 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses at their stadium. In the last match they played, for the Friendlies, they lost to Iran at home (0-1). In the last 6 home matches Venezuela has a record of 1 win, 3 draws and 2 losses. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 7 of the last 10 matches. In 13 games, he never got the comeback in the 6 games in which he suffered the first goal.
The selection of Venezuela leaves for this party with a defeat by 0-1 in the reception to Iran. Despite this slight, it should be noted that the Venezuelans have only 3 losses in the last 10 games played in several competitions. In this difficult game against Colombia, coach Rafael Dudamel must play in the usual 4-2-3-1, with José Salomón Rondón as the team’s most offensive reference. It is important to note that the local team has several defensive weaknesses, which can easily be exploited by the Colombian team. For this game the coach can count on all his players.
Colombia:
The visiting team disputes their 4th friendly of the year. In the previous friendlies it registered the following markers: Egypt (0-0) Colombia, Colombia (0-0) Australia and France (2-3) Colombia. This is a team that, oddly enough, was better outside than at home, as in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in away matches; against 5 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses at their stadium. In the last match they played, for the World Cup, they lost to England at home by (3-4) in the shoot-out on penalties. In the last 10 away matches Colombia has 5 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In 15 matches, they suffered the first goal 6 times and only managed 1 comeback.
Colombia arrives at this friendly with a penalty shootout loss to England, in a game to count for the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup. The new coach Arturo Reyes usually plays at 4-2-3-1 with Falcao , player of the Monaco, the most offensive reference of the Colombian national team. It is important to emphasize that the Colombian coach will also be able to act in 4-4-2, a system used by the previous coach. Everything indicates that the coach can count on all the players at his disposal.
