Brazil v Chile – Knockout Goals Galore

We’re into the knockout stages of the World Cup and kick off with a mouth-watering tie between Brazil and Chile.

Form
Brazil finally hit their straps in the final group game with a 4-1 win over Cameroon; Neymar doubling his tally for the World Cup with a brace and Fred finally getting off the mark too. Following the laboured win against Croatia and the lacklustre goalless draw with Mexico, Luiz Felipe Scolari could breath a slight sigh of relief with the emphatic win that appeased, at least temporarily, the expectant locals.

But we should be careful not to get too carried away with a win that came against a poor Cameroon side missing a number of key players, for one reason or another.

The Seleção have now won 11 and lost none of their last 12 international fixtures, while Neymar now has 35 goals for his country. The 22-year-old is now sixth on the list of all-time Brazilian goalscorers, ahead of the likes of Ronaldinho and Rivaldo and baring down on Bebeto’s 39 international goals. Pele’s all-time record of 77 could well be under threat in a few years’ time.

Chile booked their place in the knockout stages some time before Brazil, having won each of their opening games in emphatic fashion – against Australia, then Spain. They met Netherlands in their final group game with both teams certain of qualification and dominated possession, looking much the better side until Leroy Fer headed home for the Dutch with less than 15 minutes remaining.

Louis van Gaal’s side would add another before the final whistle, but there were plenty of positives for the Chileans to take from the game, despite the scoreline.

Team News
Hulk returned from injury to regain his place in the starting XI against Cameroon last Monday, but Scolari may opt to bolster his midfield at the Zenit forward’s expense by bringing in Fernandinho or Ramires for this one.

Arturo Vidal is on a yellow card and was taken out of the starting XI for the game against Netherlands as a result, but will return here. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will be buoyed by the confirmation that he will be a Barcelona player next season.

Head-to-Head
Brazil have won nine and lost none of the last ten head-to-heads, with the most recent Chilean win coming way back in August 2000. However, this is the strongest Chile team that we have seen for some time, and recent meetings have been close with Brazil winning 2-1 in November of last year and the two sides playing out a 2-2 draw seven months earlier.

Recommended Bets
Although deserved favourites, at odds of 6/10 in the Match Odds market, Brazil are too short. If we were to take performances seen at this World Cup in isolation then Chile have certainly been the better of the two nations and therefore represent value at odds 5/1.

Of course Brazil can improve and have many other factors – not least home advantage – in their favour, so some caution should be exercised. Instead of wading into the Match Odds market, take the 29/10 available on Chile in the Draw No Bet market and/or the 5/4 on Chile-Draw in the Double Chance betting.

Both teams and managers are of an extremely positive and attacking mindset so we should expect goals. The Yes selection in the Both Teams To Score market is a standout price at odds of 4/5, likewise over 2.5 goals at odds of 8/11.