Bolivia Vs Colombia

Bolivia is set to host Colombia at the aptly named El Alto for their second match at this new home venue in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying tournament on Thursday.

The Bolivian team got off to a fantastic start at their new high-altitude venue, even higher than the notorious Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, by defeating Venezuela 4-0 last month. Meanwhile, Colombia achieved a significant victory against Argentina in Barranquilla.

Match Preview

Bolivia's players celebrate their goal on September 10, 2024.
© Imago

Bolivia’s new home is poised to become an even more challenging venue for visiting teams, especially after the hosts broke one of the longest competitive winless streaks last month, revitalizing their hopes for qualification.

Their historic win away in Chile marked Bolivia's first away victory in qualifying in 67 matches, dating back to a 7-1 triumph over Venezuela in 1993, the last time they qualified for the World Cup finals.

This turnaround could be seen as a promising sign, and with their recent recovery after losing their first four qualifiers, they should not be underestimated.

The decision to appoint Oscar Villegas has proven to be a wise one, as he took charge following their Copa America exit and has led the team to two consecutive wins.

However, for Bolivia to maintain their World Cup aspirations, their home form must be nearly flawless, especially with their next away match against Argentina approaching next week. It wouldn't be surprising if they struggled in their remaining away games, so with 15 points still up for grabs at home, Villegas will be hoping for nearly maximum points to secure a spot in the top seven.

Finishing seventh would be enough to qualify for the intercontinental playoffs, and Bolivia enters this qualifying window tied on points with Paraguay, currently occupying that crucial position.

While Bolivia relies on their home advantage, their upcoming match against Colombia will be a significant challenge, especially given Colombia's strong form under coach Néstor Lorenzo.

Colombia's James Rodríguez and Argentina's Enzo Fernández in action on July 14, 2024.
© Imago

Los Cafeteros remain unbeaten in regular time under Lorenzo, who has overseen 28 matches, with the only blemish on his record being a defeat to Argentina in the Copa America final, which went to extra time.

Colombia managed to avenge that loss by defeating Argentina in their latest match, which was particularly timely after a disappointing 1-1 draw against a Peru side that sits at the bottom of the standings.

This leaves Colombia just two points shy of Argentina and a comfortable seven points ahead in the automatic qualification spots, making it likely that they will return to the World Cup stage after missing out on the 2022 finals in Qatar.

Maintaining their strong record against Bolivia will bring them closer to this goal, as Colombia is unbeaten in their last 13 encounters with Bolivia, securing 10 victories.

However, like many teams, they face challenges at high altitudes, winning only two of their last eight visits. A particularly low point was a 4-0 defeat in La Paz in 2003. Nevertheless, Lorenzo will hope for a better outcome in their first trip to El Alto, especially since Colombia previously won against Bolivia away in 2011 and 2016.