Copa America: Colombia Can Capitalise on Covid-Hit Venezuela

Colombia vs Venezuela

Colombia got their Copa America campaign off to a good start with a 1-0 win over Ecuador. It was a fine result considering they did not start either of their star Atalanta strikers, Duvan Zapata or Luis Muriel, and are also without the allegedly unfit James Rodriguez for the tournament.

Los Cafeteros will now look to make it two wins out of two as they face Venezuela, who were on the receiving end of a 3-0 hiding by hosts Brazil in their tournament opener.

La Vinotinto were missing a good portion of their squad – including some of their star players – amid a COVID-19 outbreak, and the Copa America 2021 betting odds are once again not in their favour for their clash against the Colombians.

Talking Points

Colombia off to good start under new coach

Reinaldo Rueda’s second spell as Colombia’s head coach is off to a promising start. Los Cafeteros have now won two of their first three matches under their new boss, who was brought in to replace Carlos Queiroz after their disastrous 6-1 defeat to Ecuador.

Rueda wasted little time making his mark on the team. He made massive Copa America 2021 news by not including Colombian superstar James Rodriguez in his tournament squad. The Everton midfielder was deemed unfit to play by the team’s medical staff, which the player denied.

However, Los Cafeteros seem to be doing just fine without their star playmaker. The Colombians battled back from an early two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Argentina in their most recent World Cup qualifier. And they also got their revenge on Ecuador without even starting top strikers Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel.

Colombia will be aiming for another victory if they want to keep close to Brazil at the top of Group A in Copa America — Colombia’s Luis Muriel celebrates with coach Reinaldo Rueda in the World Cup qualifying match against Argentina

One or both of the two Atalanta strikers will likely return to the starting XI against Venezuela, which should be a huge boost for the Colombians. They will give veteran winger Juan Cuadrado a more dangerous target for his pinpoint crosses.

Neither Zapata (four goals in 23 caps) nor Muriel (eight goals in 38 caps) has an impressive scoring record for their country, but they should fancy their chances of getting a goal against a depleted Venezuela side.

Virus hits Venezuela hard

Venezuela were dealt a massive blow in the form of a COVID-19 outbreak on the eve of their tournament opener against Brazil.

Already without top striker and all-time leading scorer Salomon Rondon due to injury, a number of key players – including star striker Josef Martinez and captain Tomas Rincon – tested positive and were unable to play against Brazil. As a result, the hosts breezed to an easy 3-0 win as Venezuela had just three total shots, with one on target.

Venezuela have since called up an extra 15 players to their squad amid the outbreak, but none of those replacements figures to change La Vinotinto’s fortunes if the likes of Martinez (11 goals in 53 caps) and Rincon (106 caps) are out.

Venezuela don’t have anyone who can remotely replace Martinez, who was the only player on the squad with more than six international goals. Midfielder Romulo Otero, who has six goals in 39 caps, was also struck by COVID.

Venezuela coach Jose Peseiro has been dealt an incredibly bad hand and will have to make do with what he has. As a result, he will likely continue to play with a very conservative 4-5-1 formation and hope they can hold Colombia to a draw.

History

Colombia have comfortably dominated Venezuela over the years. Los Cafeteros have won 25 of their 48 total matches, with La Vinotinto coming away victorious just seven times, with 16 draws.

The Colombians are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Venezuela, with three wins and two draws. They won their most recent match, a World Cup qualifier, last October 3-0, with Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel supplying the goals.

Betting Tip

	Colombia vs Venezuela	Colombia Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 1.98
	June 18, 5:00 (GMT+8)

To no one’s surprise, SBOTOP odds have Colombia as overwhelming 1.29 favourites over Venezuela, who are a mere 8.00 to win without their big stars.

Due to Venezuela’s unfortunate situation, Colombia should win this match quite easily. The Venezuelans simply don’t have the talent in attack to trouble Los Cafeteros, who will have the sizable talent advantage.

That is, if Rueda decides to play Zapata and Muriel against the depleted Venezuelans. I suspect he will, though, and the Colombians should have enough quality to cruise to a comfortable win.