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

Venezuela remain the only nation on the continent to have never reached the World Cup, but a fine start has built belief that they could end that long wait.

Match preview

Hosts Peru are having a shocking start to their qualifying campaign, sitting bottom after five matches, having only picked up one point.

That came in a 0-0 draw with Paraguay on matchday one, and they are still yet to open their account in the section, as four straight defeats to nil have followed.

Thursday's loss in Bolivia was arguably the most concerning yet, as it was the first points they had picked up, sending Peru bottom of the table.

While getting Brazil and Argentina out of the way early may be a minor positive going forward, sitting bottom will not do much for confidence for a side that, realistically, need to pick up their first win here if they want to remain in contention.

The most surprising aspect of Peru's start is how quickly their fall off has happened, as they were just a penalty shoot-out away from reaching the last World Cup but lost to Australia in the inter-continental playoff.

Despite an extended format which provides CONMEBOL with two additional automatic spots, they look in serious trouble of missing out again.

Manager Juan Reynoso will hope they can maintain Peru's fine historical record against Venezuela, though, as they have never lost a home fixture against their upcoming opponents.

While Peru have arguably been the big underachievers so far, Venezuela have comfortably been the biggest overachievers, sitting comfortably in an automatic qualification spot.

Not many critics gave them much of a chance, even though the format has been expanded to potentially allow seven of the continent's 10 nations to qualify, but that could change this time around.

Venezuela have been the perennial failures, having never succeeded in reaching the finals after first entering qualifying for the 1966 edition.

Fernando Batista's men look capable of re-writing the history books, though, as a fine start has them well in contention.

After five games, they sit fourth, above Brazil, who they drew with in their last away outing.

A matchday one defeat to Colombia remains their only blemish, as a 0-0 draw with Ecuador on Thursday saw Venezuela extend their unbeaten run to four games - two of which were wins, against Chile and Paraguay.

Peru World Cup Qualifying - South America form:

D

L

L

L

L

Peru form (all competitions):

L

D

L

L

L

L

Venezuela World Cup Qualifying - South America form:

L

W

D

W

D

Venezuela form (all competitions):

W

L

W

D

W

D

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Team News

Reynoso could change some personnel after a very disappointing defeat in Bolivia last week.

Defender Aldo Corzo is set to make his 50th cap for Peru here, as he is likely to start at right-back again with Luis Advincula unavailable through suspension after picking up yet another booking on Thursday.

Christian Cueva remains out, having not yet featured in this qualifying campaign as his injury woes continue.

Venezuela will be out with the uncapped Jesus Bueno, who had been a regular with Philadelphia Union and looked capable of breaking into the side, but injury has held back his progress.

Josef Martinez remains without a club and has been overlooked by the national side here, so after scoring on his 100th cap against Chile last month, Salomon Rondon should lead the line.

Peru possible starting lineup:

Gallese; Corzo, Zambrano, Callens, Lopez; Quispe, Tapia, Yotun; Carrillo, Guerrero, Zanelatto

Venezuela possible starting lineup:

Romo; Gonzalez, Angel, Makoun, Navarro; Casseres, Jose Martinez, Herrera; Sosa, Rondon, Soteldo

We say: Peru 0-0 Venezuela

Peru have looked a shadow of the side of years gone by in this section so far, so they will need to make home advantage count in order to get their campaign back on track.

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