COPA AMERICA: VENEZUELA VS MEXICO PREVIEW, PREDICTION & BETTING PICKS

The clash between Venezuela and Mexico is likely to be a tight and cagey affair, with just one goal likely to split the sides. Julian Quinones is likely to be the one on the scoresheet for Mexico, with Salomon Rondon also likely to pick up two shots on target. Venezuela 0 - 1 Mexico.

Venezuela take on Mexico this Thursday at SoFi Stadium in the second game of the Copa America Group stage. Both sides picked up a win in their first game and will be looking to continue this form to grab a spot in the knock-out rounds

Date: 26/06/2024

Kick-off time: 10:00 (EST)

Location: SoFi Stadium

Both Venezuela and Mexico started their Copa America campaigns with a win, but will be looking to grab another three points, not just to push for knock-out football but also to build some momentum after some shaky form prior to the tournament.Venezuela currently sit top of Group B after one game. The first game gave them a three point haul, leaving them equal with Mexico and three points above Ecuador and Jamaica.

After exiting at the Group stage back in 2021, Venezuela will be looking to better that result and follow their success in 2016 and 2019, where Venezuela made it all the way to the Quarter-finals.

Mexico sit just below Venezuela in second in Group B. In their one game so far, Mexico have picked up a win, but due to their goal difference, they find themselves behind Venezuela but three points above Ecuador and Jamaica.

In their ten appearances so far in the Copa America, Mexico have made the Final twice and the Semi-finals on three occasions. However, more recently, Mexico have gone out at the Group stage twice and the Quarter-finals most recently.Venezuela and Mexico have met 20 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games. Mexico have the better record in the fixture with 14 wins in comparison to Venezuela’s two wins. In fact, a draw is more common in this fixture, happening on four occasions.

The last five games in this fixture have seen three draws and two wins for Mexico. This fixture usually sees both sides on the scoresheet, with all five of their last five games have seen both sides finding the back of the net.

Venezuela vs Mexico will be shown on FOX in the USA.

Venezuela Team News

Fernando Batista is unlikely to change much after his winning start to the Copa America. However, he may choose to start with goalscorer Jhonder Cadiz up front after his first game heroics.

Mexico Team News

Jaime Lozano is also likely to stick with the starting XI that picked up a win over Jamaica with the likes of Edson Alvarez and Luis Chavez retaining their spots in the midfield.

In their last five games in all competitions, Venezuela have one win, two draws and two losses.The World Cup Qualifiers back in November saw Venezuela take on Peru. Venezuela were behind early on as Yoshimar Yotun gave Peru the lead in the 17th minute. Within ten minutes of the second half, Jefferson Savarino drew Venezuela level, but neither side could find a winner as the game finished in a 1 - 1 draw.An international friendly saw Venezuela face Colombia. An own goal from Andres Ferro in the 41st minute was the only goal of the game to give Colombia the 1 - 0 win with Venezuela failing to register a single shot on target.Another international friendly saw Venezuela take on a European side in Italy.

Mateo Retegui opened the scoring in the 40th minute but Darwin Machis found the back of the net before the halftime whistle. However, Retegui popped up with another goal in the 80th minute to give Italy the 2 - 1 win.The final international friendly before the Copa America saw Venezuela face Guatemala. Neither side troubled each other's' keepers as the game finished in a 0 - 0 draw.The last time out for Venezuela was against Ecuador in the first game of the Copa America Group stage. Despite the early red card to Enner Valencia, Jeremy Sarmiento scored to give Ecuador the lead at halftime. However, in the second half, Cadiz and Eduard Bello both scored in a ten minute period to give Venezuela the 2 - 1 comeback win.

In their last five games in all competitions, Mexico have two wins and three losses.In the CONCACAF Nations League Final, Mexico took on the USA. Tyler Adams opened the scoring for the US on the stroke of halftime and Giovanni Reyna added his name to the scoresheet in the second half as the US picked up a 2 - 0 win.Mexico bounced back from the Final loss in an international friendly against Bolivia. Efrain Alvarez scored the only goal of the game in the 47th minute to give Mexico the 1 - 0 win.However, the next international friendly for Mexico was one to forget against Uruguay. Darwin Nunez picked up a hat-trick and was joined on the scoresheet by Facundo Pellistri as Uruguay picked up a 4 - 0 win, despite Mexico having more of the possession.Another international friendly saw Mexico take on Brazil. Andreas Pereira opened the scoring early for Brazil in the fifth minute and Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead early in the second half. An own goal from Yan Couto and a late goal from Guillermo Martinez Ayala brought Mexico level. However, even later into extra time, Endrick found the back of the net to give Brazil the 3 - 2 win.The most recent outing for Mexico was their first game of the Copa America Group stage against Jamaica. Gerardo Arteago scored the only goal of the game in the 69th minute to give Mexico a 1 - 0 win in their opening game.