Brazil will be looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying to 33 games when they play host to Chile at the Maracana Stadium on Thursday.

The Selecao have already qualified for this year's tournament in Qatar, while Chile are currently three points behind the top-four automatic qualification places.

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Brazil have enjoyed a dominant qualification campaign so far, winning 12 and drawing three of their 15 matches, and it was after just 12 fixtures when they officially qualified for the 2022 World Cup in November last year.

The Selecao are the only national team in world football to have qualified for every World Cup since the inaugural tournament back in 1930.

Tite will have been slightly disappointed when his side played out a 1-1 draw against Ecuador last month but they managed to bounce back with an emphatic 4-0 victory against Paraguay with Raphinha, Philippe Coutinho, Antony and Rodrygo all on the scoresheet, the latter scoring his first senior goal for the national team.

Brazil's sole target will now be to prevent South American rivals Argentina from snatching top spot in CONMEBOL Qualifying, and victory in their next two qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia would guarantee their place at the summit.

The Selecao currently sit four points above La Albiceleste with both nations having either two or three fixtures remaining, as it still remains to be seen whether their previously postponed fixture against each other, following the COVID-19 fiasco in September last year, will be rearranged.

With Tite stepping down from his role as Brazil head coach after the showpiece tournament in Qatar, the 60-year-old will be hoping his side can end their qualification campaign on a high before they embark on their quest for a sixth World Cup crown at the end of this year.

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Following a disappointing start to their qualification campaign, winning only one of their opening 10 games, Chile now require a strong finish to give themselves a chance of booking their place in Qatar.

Successive defeats against Ecuador and Argentina – two nations currently sitting above them in the top four – hampered their progress, but a crucial 3-2 victory away in Bolivia last month has kept their hopes alive.

A brace from star man Alexis Sanchez and a first international goal for Universidad Catolica midfielder Marcelino Nunez helped La Roja claim just their fifth victory in 16 qualification matches, and keeps them within three points of fourth-placed Uruguay, who they will face in their final qualifier at home on March 30.

Martin Lasarte's men will firstly face a mammoth task against South American heavyweights Brazil, who they have beaten only once in their last 18 matches against them, including friendly internationals.

Chile were, however, the last team to defeat Brazil in CONMEBOL Qualifying, with late second-half goals from Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas securing a 2-0 triumph in Santiago back in October 2015.

La Roja missed out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup so they will be desperate to advance to this year's tournament, but they will need to be on top of their game if they are to claim any points against Brazil and Uruguay this month.

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Brazil winger Raphinha has pulled out of Tite's 25-man squad due to COVID-19, while Gabriel Magalhaes will also play no part this month as he and his girlfriend are expecting their first child.

Gabriel has been replaced by Atletico Madrid's Felipe and the centre-back will be competing with Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Eder Militao for a place in the starting lineup.

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has also been forced to withdraw due to illness, and he has been replaced in the squad by Atletico Mineiro's Everson, but Liverpool's Alisson Becker is set to wear the number one jersey on Thursday.

Selecao star Neymar has missed the last three World Cup qualifiers due to injury, but the Paris Saint-Germain forward is available this month and is expected to start, with Richarlison and Vinicius Junior the most likely candidates to join him in a three-man attack.

As for Chile, Ben Brereton Diaz has been sidelined since February with an ankle injury, but the Blackburn Rovers striker has been called up by the national team this month and will be assessed when he arrives in South America.

Arturo Vidal was forced to miss last month's qualifier due to suspension, but the veteran midfielder is available to face Brazil and will likely start alongside Erick Pulgar and Charles Aranguiz.

Lasarte is expected to use a 3-5-2 formation on Thursday, with Gary Medel, Benjamin Kuscevic and Guillermo Maripan set to start in the back three, while Sanchez could be joined in attack by Eduardo Vargas.

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Danilo, T. Silva, Marquinhos, Telles; Paqueta, Casemiro, Coutinho; Vinicius Jr, Richarlison, Neymar

Chile possible starting lineup:
Bravo, Kuscevic, Medel, Maripan; Isla, Aranguiz, Vidal, Pulgar, Suazo; Vargas, Sanchez

We say: Brazil 3-1 Chile

Unlike Brazil, the pressure is on Chile to perform and claim maximum points in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, if their hopes of qualification are to remain alive.

The Selecao, however, are unbeaten in 14 international matches on home soil and as strong favourites, they should be able to get the job done against a spirited Chile outfit.

Written by
Oliver Thomas

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