Aiming to rebound after back-to-back humiliating defeats, Bolivia will host high-flying Paraguay in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on Tuesday evening.
The hosts are eighth in the table with 12 points from 11 games, while the visitors are sixth in the standings with 16 points from their 11 outings.
© Imago
Bolivia came into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers aiming to secure their place in the world’s most prestigious tournament for just the fourth time in their history, having previously appeared in 1930, 1950 and 1994.
However, they have struggled in their first 11 matches, securing four wins and suffering seven defeats, with just 11 goals scored and 25 conceded, seven more than the next highest number of goals conceded.
After enduring four defeats to start their qualifying campaign, Bolivia impressively managed four wins from their next five World Cup qualifiers, losing the remaining match, but they have since fallen to back-to-back defeats.
They suffered a heavy 6-0 loss to Argentina in October, followed by a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Ecuador in their last match, leaving them eager to avoid a third consecutive heavy loss here.
Despite the recent poor results, Bolivia still sit just four points behind the automatic qualification places, but with just three games left to play, Bolivia are in urgent need of points to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Paraguay are likely to prove a challenging opponent for the hosts though, with the visitors heading into this game on the back of several phenomenal results in past matches.
The Guaranies managed just one win in their first six qualifying matches in 2023, but they have been significantly improved in the five qualifiers throughout 2024.
Gustavo Alfaro was hired as Paraguay boss in August 2024, and he has led the side to three wins and two draws from his five games in charge, including fantastic wins against Brazil and Argentina.
Those results have seen them climb into sixth in the table with 16 points from 11 outings, leaving them with a four-point lead over seventh and eighth-placed Venezuela and Bolivia.
Paraguay will now be coming into this one aiming to secure another superb win on Tuesday, a result that would see them move one step closer to a first World Cup appearance since 2010.
© Imago
The hosts will be without the services of Jose Sagredo for this match after the defender received a red card in the 24th minute of their 4-0 defeat to Ecuador last time out.
Elsewhere, Oscar Villegas could make a number of changes to the starting 11 after his side have suffered heavy defeats in back-to-back matches, with Lucas Chavez, Gabriel Sotomayor and Oscar Lopez all potential additions to the starting team.
As for the visitors, following a remarkable victory against Argentina last time out, where they came from 1-0 down to win 2-1, Alfaro could opt to name the same team here.
Antonio Sanabria scored his fourth goal of the qualification campaign in that match, his third in his last two appearances for Paraguay, and the striker is expected to start once again here.
Bolivia possible starting lineup:
Viscarra; Rocha, Morales, Haquin, Vaca; Villamil, Cuellar; Sotomayor, Chavez, Lopez; Monteiro
Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Velazquez, G Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; D Gomez, Cubas, Bobadilla, Almiron; Enciso, Sanabria
Paraguay have been on a sensational run in recent matches, while Bolivia have faced extreme difficulty in their last two games, leading us to believe the visitors will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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