In what is set to be a dead rubber final game of the World Cup qualification process in South America for one side, Chile will welcome Uruguay to the Estadio Monumental David Arellano with the two-time world champions already qualified just as the home side fight for absolutely everything.
It is going to be a tough ask for Chile to qualify for Qatar 2022 at this stage in what could be another four years without a World Cup after previously making it to two in a row for them after qualifying for South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. It would be heartbreak for such a football-mad country but in reality, with now just five wins in 17 games and a torrid record of 19 goals scored and 24 conceded, it's tough to see how they overturn the odds here. On the other hand, Uruguay have qualified and cannot drop into the fifth spot where you end up in the play-offs, although they can move ahead of Ecuador in third with an almighty +10 goal switch in goal difference and a draw, or if they better Ecuador's result in general.
Chile themselves need to ensure they win and Peru's lost as they sit fifth right now and will be heading to the CONMEBOL play-offs for which they will meet either the United Arab Emirates or Australia from the opposite side of the world this June. To do this, they must hope Peru cannot beat Paraguay, while Chile must also win here against Uruguay, and what is a great positive for both nations attempting to get the win here, both Paraguay and Uruguay have had their fate secured already and enter this one with nothing to play for.
Uruguay themselves are also not exactly an easy game for Alexis Sanchez and co., with them actually beating Peru last time out, which ironically, opened the door for Chile to qualify against the odds.
Given the importance of the fixture and how the Uruguayans may make some changes, it's fair to say that Chile enter this one as the favourite. As a result, we're going to back them to win to a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 scoreline.
