Chile striker Alexis Sánchez. (Photo : Reuters)
A high-profile match between Copa America champions Chile and fan-favorite Brazil is scheduled on October 8, Thursday as one of the games of the CONMEBOL 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament's first matchday.
In one of La Roja's preparations for this fall's qualifiers, Chile beat Paraguay, 3-2, at the Estadio Nacional de Chile on September 5 in an international friendly match, as per SkySports.
Midfielder Felipe Gutiérrez scored a double at the 8th and 64th minutes while Arsenal winger Alexis Sánchez put the nail in the coffin at the 82nd to secure the win for Jorge Sampaoli's side.
Paraguay went up 2-1 after Jonathan Fabbro and Jorge Benítez scored one each at the 51st and 53rd before Sánchez's right foot winner.
Meanwhile, Brazil is coming off a dominating 4-1 victory over Team USA also in an international friendly at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 9, via Heavy.
Hulk and Rafinha scored a goal each while team captain Neymar had a double to guide Seleção to a cruising 4-0 lead with 23 minutes left.
USMNT substitute Danny Williams managed to put the Americans on the board right in injury time, but that was about all they could do against coach Dunga's wards.
Chile versus Brazil is expected to be another highly entertaining encounter as both teams feature a lot of club star players from the biggest leagues in the world such as Neymar, Kaká, Oscar, Willian, and Fernandinho for the Canarinho and Sánchez, Arturo Vidal, Claudio Bravo, and Gary Medel for La Roja.
The predicted result is a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Chile.
Chile starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Bravo; Medel, Jara, Isla, Albornoz; Vidal, Fernández, Gutiérrez; Sánchez, Vargas, Paredes
Brazil starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Jefferson; Alves, Marcelo, Marquinhos, Fabinho; Kaká, Oscar, Willian, Fernandinho; Hulk, Oliveira
