Copa America: Colombia vs Paraguay Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

NRG Stadium hosts Colombia and Paraguay on Monday for their first game of the 2024 Copa America. In a somewhat stacked group, both sides will be looking to calm the boat with an opening game win.

• Colombia to win @ 7/10 via SkyBet
• Only one team to score @ 4/6 via CopyBet
• Over 1.5 goals @ ⅖ via SkyBet

These odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Date: 24/06/2024

Kick-off time: 23:00 (BST)

Location: NRG Stadium

In a group like Group D alongside the likes of Brazil and Costa Rica, it will be important for Colombia and Paraguay to grab an early three point haul on the first time of asking.

Colombia automatically qualified for the Copa America as a CONMEBOL nation but are one of the regular participants with the least appearances in the competition. Since their debut in the Copa America in 1945, Colombia have made 24 appearances.

Los Cafeteros have lifted the trophy once in their histories, back in 2001 where they won silverware on home soil. Colombia beat Peru and Honduras on the way to the Final, where they beat Mexico 1 - 0 to win their first title and become the only team to win a Copa America without conceding a single goal.

Paraguay also had automatic qualification to the Copa America as a CONMEBOL nation but are among the nations with some of the most appearances in the competition. Since 1921, Paraguay have made 39 appearances.

The White and Reds have won the Copa America twice in their history. In 1953 Paraguay beat Brazil to the title and in 1979 they beat Brazil again in the Semi-finals and beat Chile in the Final to win their second title. Most recently they have made the Quarter-finals in the last two tournaments.

This will be the 50th meeting between Colombia and Paraguay, with the first ever meeting coming back in the 1947 Copa America. Colombia have the better record in the fixture with 23 wins in comparison to Paraguay’s 18 wins, the other eight games ending in a draw.

The last five games in this fixture have seen three wins for Colombia and two draws. The last win for Paraguay was seven years ago in 2017 and in four of the last five games there has been just one team on the scoresheet.

Colombia Team News

Nestor Lorenzo has called upon some familiar faces in captain James Rodriguez, Luis DIaz and Jhon Cordoba. Other notable names include Jefferson Lerman, Gustavo Puerta and Daniel Munoz.

Paraguay Team News

Daniel Garnero’s squad consists of Miguel Almiron, Matias Rojas and Julio Enciso most notably. However, Paraguay will have to go without Diego Gomez who is still recovering from an injury he picked up with Inter Miami.

In their last five games in all competitions, Colombia have five wins.

An international friendly brought Colombia to Mexico where they found themselves behind with goals from Omar Govea and Guillermo Martinez Ayala early in the second half. However, goals from Andres Reyes, Roger Martinez and Andres Gomez in the second half gave Colombia the 3 - 2 win.

In an international friendly in London, Colombia took on Spain. Munoz’s goal was the only one of the game just after the hour in a 1 - 0 win for Colombia.

Another international friendly against another European opponent saw Colombia take on Romania. Cordoba and Jhon Arias both scored to give Colombia the 2 - 0 lead at halftime and Yaser Asprilla made it 3 - 0 with ten minutes to go. Ianis Hagi and Florin Tanase both scored late on but Colombia held them off to win 3 - 2.

Arias was on the scoresheet again for Colombia in the sixth minute against the U, with Rafael Santos Borre Maury doubling the lead before halftime. Tim Weah got the US on the scoresheet but goals from Richard Rios, Jorge Carrascal and Luis Sinisterra gave Colombia the 5 - 1 win.

The last time out for Colombia was against Bolivia. Both Colombia and Bolivia had a man sent off, Munoz and Cesar Menacho respectively, but first half goals from Arias, Cordoba and Diaz gave Colombia the 3 - 0 win.

In their last five games in all competitions, Paraguay have one win, two draws and two losses.

The World Cup Qualifier against Chile was a fiery affair. Robert Rojas was sent off for Paraguay on the stroke of halftime and Chile were unable to capitalise on their extra man until the 88th minute where Victor Mendez was sent off for Chile in the 0 - 0 draw.

A penalty from Borre Maury in the 11th minute was the only goal of the game when these two sides met in a World Cup Qualifier, Colombia picking up a 1 - 0 win.

The next time out was an international friendly against Peru for Paraguay. Peru failed to register a single shot on target in seven attempts and despite having four shots on target, Paraguay failed to convert any of them as the game finished in another 0 - 0 draw.

Another meeting with Chile saw a first half brace from Victor Davila and a second half goal from Eduardo Vargas to give Chile the 3 - 0 win over Paraguay.

The most recent outing for Paraguay was against Panama. Gustavo Velazquez scored the only goal of the game in the 25th minute to give Paraguay the 1 - 0 win.

Colombia are in good form coming into the Copa America and look to quickly dispatch Paraguay and start their campaign with a win with Diaz likely to get his name on the scoresheet. Colombia 2 - 0 Paraguay.

Colombia vs Paraguay will be shown on Premier Sports 1 in the U.K. but the game can also be followed online on Sky Sports or BBC Sport.

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