History is on Brazil's side against Chile
In 70 previous meetings between the two South American nations, Chile have only won seven times while Selecao have been victorious on 50 occasions and Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team are currently on a 12 match unbeaten run against La Roja.
The last time Brazil tasted defeat to their fellow South Americans was in 2000, when they were qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.
Meanwhile in the last two World Cups Chile have competed in, South Africa 2010 and France 1998, Selecao have knocked them out in the round of 16.
History suggests Brazil win at Mineirao Stadium but this is probably the strongest Chile side in history and Jorge Sampaoli has his team playing wonderful football.
A huge positive for Scolari and co is that they come into this game with confidence and momentum.
Prior to the Cameroon fixture there were concerns surrounding Selecao but many were allayed on Monday night plus their opponents come into this knock-out round match off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Holland.
It was in this match that Brazil would have witnessed, again, some of the weaknesses they can exploit in Sampaoli’s team.
Chile have always been vulnerable on the counter-attack and this is possibly why Spain, a team not famed for counter-attacking, struggled against them.
Brazil are renown for counter-attacking and with Neymar, Hulk, Oscar and Fred’s movement up front they’ll be able to catch Chile should they get caught with players up the field – like they did against Holland.
The Selecao full-backs will also cause La Roja problems because both teams love to push their right and left-backs up the pitch but Brazil’s will attack with more quality and accuracy.
Chile also struggle from crosses and conceded goals from both these situations against Holland and Australia.
Scolari discussed before the World Cup that he wanted his team to improve from set piecesand their training ground work could prove pivotal here.
Chile will of course cause Brazil plenty of problems too and not least when they overload in central areas. Therefore it seems Fernandinho will be preferred to Paulinho and Oscar will have to drop in at times to make a three-man midfield.
Brazil will take on Chile tonight at 7 pm, Qatar local time. Who do you think will win tonight?
Source: Metro.co.uk
