Copa America 2021 Preview: Colombia to Continue Mastery over Peru

Team Previews

Colombia: Playing Hard to Get

Check the stats Colombia put up against Venezuela: 523 passes at 88% accuracy versus 232 passes at 70% accuracy, 721 touches versus 439 touches, and eight shots on target (23 overall) versus one shot (two overall) on target. And the score was nil-nil.

Days before the Copa America, Venezuela sent 14 replacement players to face Brazil after a COVID-19 outbreak within the team. They lost 3-0.

Today they earned a hard-fought point against Colombia, following an incredible performance from goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez 🧤 pic.twitter.com/gMYSTHUITn

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 17, 2021

“We must improve our finishing”, Colombia’s coach Reinaldo Rueda said. No kidding. Colombia was by far the superior team and this was the “gimme” match in the group for them to gain three points. However, they ran into a red-hot tender in Wuilker Farinez.

They’ll get another chance against the equally goal-starved Peruvians. Colombia maintains a prolific duo up front with FW Duvan Zapata and FW Luis Muriel while the four behind them, led by LM Edwin Cardona. They’ll attack Peru, which gave up nine shots on target and conceded three.

Peru: Breaking the Streak

Peru has constantly been like a little brother to most of the CONMEBOL powers. Going up against Colombia is no exception as they haven’t beaten them in a meaningful game in decades. The best result Peru has gotten in recent meetings was a 1-1 draw in the 2017 World Cup qualifiers.

Unfortunately, this game won’t be the game they snap the streak. Without Paolo Guerrero, the Peruvians could only muster two shots on target against Brazil and lost as predicted. They roughed them up and committed 20 fouls along with three yellow cards. That’s one way to “attack”.

Make no mistake, the Peruvians do have more firepower than Venezuela. But the likes of FW Gianluca Lapadula, AM Christian Cueva, and AM Andre Carrillo will need to step up. They need at least one point here.

Pick: Getting It Done

The Colombians may well still have nightmares of Farinez. But thankfully, GK Pedro Gallese isn’t Farinez. Finishing issues aside, Colombia will control the ball and dominate the pitch against Peru though not as extensively as they did against Venezuela.

Colombia at -150 on the soccer betting lines is a fair price for a team that is a tier above Peru when it comes to offense. But they can’t get too sloppy here as the Peruvians do have enough speed and skill on both sides.

GK David Ospina is solid in goal for Colombia, especially against Peru. He’s had three straight clean sheets against them and hasn’t given up more than a goal in his career against the Coffee Growers.

Pick: Colombia -150

Bonus Pick: One or Two

Six of the last eight meetings between these teams ended with a total score of two goals or lower. Colombia had two 3-0 victories including their most recent meeting just earlier this month.

However, scoring can be a task even for such a talented squad like Colombia. Maybe it’s the empty arena or the socio-political mess surrounding this entire tournament, but only Brazil and Paraguay have scored more than two goals. The rest of the games have combined for three goals in total. Bet on the under.

Pick: Totals – Under 2½ (-145)