Brazil and Uruguay will collide in a crucial showdown in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Friday at Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil.
Brazil will look to improve their rankings in the CONMEBOL qualification, as they are currently in fifth spot with seven points in four matches. The Selecao kicked off their WCQ campaign with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Chile, but bounced back with a 3-1 win against Venezuela.
The Brazilians are coming off an impressive 3-0 win over Peru, which came after settling for a 1-1 draw with Argentina. A win against Uruguay on Friday could push them to second place in the CONMEBOL standings behind just Ecuador, who already have 13 points from four wins and one draw.
Neymar is expected to lead the charge for the Brazilians in front of their home crowd. The Brazilian national team got a huge scare after Neymar was sent to a hospital due to groin issues. But according to ESPN, all tests were negative and that the Brazilian talisman will be 100 percent fit against Uruguay.
On the other hand, Uruguay will welcome Luis Suarez back. Suarez, Neymar's teammate at FC Barcelona, will play for the first time for Uruguay in almost two years after serving suspension for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their match in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
While he knows that he will have a fair share of the spotlight on Friday, Suarez said that he will play with the same intensity he had before the suspension, but the FC Barcelona star vowed to become a smarter player on the field.
"I am going to have the same attitude, I will still run, still pressure, still argue because no one is going to change the way I play," Suarez said. "But with moderation, like I am doing now at Barcelona, being more intelligent about a lot of things, trying to take advantage of the situations life is putting in front of me."
Uruguay, who are coming off a 3-0 win against Chile in their previous match, are currently second in the CONMEBOL standings with nine points from three wins and one defeat.
Where to Watch and Live Stream
The Brazil-Uruguay match will kick off at 8:45 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action on beIN Sports en Espanol and through online live streaming via beIN Sports Connect and FuboTV. More broadcast and live stream information are available on Live Soccer TV.
Rosters and Prediction
Brazil and Uruguay know the importance of their upcoming showdown and both are expected to go all out. Playing in front of their home crowd, Brazil are tipped to escape with a narrow win. Brazil 1-0.
Below are the projected starting rosters for both national squads.
Brazil: Alisson, David Luiz, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Alves, Luiz Gustavo, Renato Agusto, Fernandinho Costa, Willian, Neymar
Uruguay: Muslera Coates, Fucile, Alvaro Pereira, Victorino, Arevalo Rios, Alvaro Gonzalez, Carlos Sanchez, Diego Laxalt, Cavani, Suarez.
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