Preview: Peru vs. Brazil - prediction, team news, lineups

Brazil will look to follow up Friday's dominant victory over Bolivia when they travel to Lima for Tuesday's clash with Peru in World Cup qualifying.

The hosts, meanwhile, will be hoping to pull off a surprise result and claim all three points after they shared the spoils with Paraguay in their opening game.

Match preview

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After CONMEBOL were awarded an extra automatic qualifying place for the expanded 2026 tournament, Peru will believe that they have a real chance of reaching their fifth World Cup finals.

Juan Reynoso's side were forced to work hard in their opening game against Paraguay after Luis Advincula was sent off on the stroke of half time for two bookable offences.

The 10 men of Peru held firm in the second period to hold Paraguay to a goalless draw, ensuring that they returned home with a precious point.

While they may have won just one of their last five internationals, Peru will be pleased with the fact they have now kept three clean sheets in their last four matches.

Another point on Tuesday would certainly be regarded as a success, but the hosts will be dreaming of claiming their first competitive win over Brazil since June 2016.

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Brazil interim boss Fernando Diniz, who is balancing the role with his position as Fluminense head coach, began his tenure with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Bolivia in Belem on Friday night.

Rodrygo scored either side of a Raphinha strike to give Brazil a commanding three-goal lead, before Neymar netted a brace to become Brazil's men's leading scorer, surpassing the record previously held by Pele.

The result represented Brazil's fourth consecutive victory in World Cup qualifying - a run that includes three successive 4-0 wins over Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia.

The victory also extended their unbeaten in World Cup qualifiers to 35 games - a streak which stretches back to October 2015.

After winning on their last two trips to Peru in 2016 and 2021, Brazil will be confident of continuing their impressive qualifying form when they travel to Lima for Tuesday's encounter.

Team News

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Peru will be forced into a change at right-back, with Aldo Corzo set to replace Advincula, who will serve a one-match suspension following his red card in Thursday's goalless draw.

After being introduced at half time against Paraguay, Feyenoord's Marcos Lopez is in contention to start on Tuesday.

Experienced forward Paolo Guerrero will captain the side, and the 39-year-old will be looking to add to the 39 goals that he has scored in his 110 international appearances.

As for Brazil, there are doubts surrounding the fitness of Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes, who was forced in the 85th minute of his international debut with an injury issue.

If Gabriel is unable to feature, Diniz could decide to bring Al-Ahli defender Ibanez into the starting lineup for Tuesday's encounter.

After becoming Brazil men's all-time leading scorer, Neymar will be looking to add to his 79-goal tally when he starts against Peru.

Peru possible starting lineup:

Gallesse; Corzo, Araujo, Abram, Lopez; Tapia, Yotun; Polo, Gonzales, Carrillo; Guerrero

Brazil possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Ibanez, Lodi; Guimaraes, Casemiro; Raphinha, Neymar, Rodrygo; Richarlison

We say: Peru 0-2 Brazil

Brazil have won their last four head-to-head fixtures against Peru, and after keeping clean sheets in the last three meetings with Tuesday's opponents, we think that they will produce another strong defensive display to begin their qualifying campaign with consecutive victories.

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