Colombia vs Venezuela & Brazil vs Peru Odds & Picks: Copa America Group Stage Matchday 2

• Colombia takes on Venezuela in Brazil in second round of games at 5:00 pm ET  Thursday
• Brazilians seek second win as Peru kicks off its tournament in Rio at 8:00 pm ET on the same day
• See all odds and best bets for Colombia vs Venezuela and Brazil vs Peru Copa America Group B

The Copa America tournament continues on Thursday with Matchday 2 of the Group Stage featuring Colombia vs Venezuela and Brazil vs Peru.

We preview both matches with our best bets below.

Colombia vs Venezuela Odds

Odds taken on June 16 at DraftKings

Colombia vs Venezuela Prediction

Colombia seeks its second win at the Copa America tournament in Brazil on Thursday when it takes on a Venezuela team in poor form.

In the opening round of Group B matches, Colombia secured a battling 1-0 win against Ecuador. Meanwhile, Venezuela – which has been ravaged by COVID-19 – was beaten 3-0 by the Brazilian hosts.

So second-placed Colombia is expected to secure another win against an opponent which has won only once in its last seven games.

No fewer than 12 members of the Venezuelan set-up were hit by the virus during its preparations for the competition.

This included five players, with captain Tomas Rincon among them.

https://youtu.be/9dWCFQuioc4

The Colombians, meanwhile, are in a buoyant mood having now gone three games unbeaten since the re-appointment of coach Reinaldo Rueda following his sacking by Chile in January.

The oddsmakers at DraftKings have therefore made Colombia a wide favorite at -345 with Venezuela a huge outsider at +950.

Colombia Solid But Struggles for Goals

Colombia is a well-organized unit but is not a prolific goalscorer. It has scored more than twice in only six of its last 17 internationals.

However, it is tough to find value here. So, despite its lack of firepower, the spread offer of +175 for Colombia to win by two or more goals could offer some adventurous promise (Asian Handicap -1.5).

Fans left speechless after Colombia’s ‘perfect’ six-step set-piece goal against Ecuador in #CopaAmerica2021 https://t.co/ZS8YBHx6aY

— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) June 14, 2021

The draw, furthermore, is priced at +440. The kick-off at the Estadio Olimpico in the central Brazilian city of Goiania is at 5:00 pm ET.

Colombia’s win against Ecuador in Cuiaba on Tuesday was a scrappy affair. But it was superbly settled by Edwin Cardona’s impressive 42nd-minute free-kick goal.

The defensively solid Colombian side was never troubled by its opponents.

There was a 3-0 home win for Colombia the last time these nations met last year.

The side has also been boosted by good results in two World Cup qualifiers played this month before the start of Copa America.

It scored a 3-0 away win against Peru before drawing 2-2 at home against Argentina.

There was a 3-0 home win for Colombia the last time these nations met in a World Cup qualifier in October last year.

Copa America rocked by Venezuela Covid outbreak on eve of opener https://t.co/uvFPBRKzZF

— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) June 13, 2021

Despite its problems, the Venezuelan defense did well to restrict Brazil to three goals on Tuesday.

Even so, Venezuela has lost five of its last seven games with one draw and one win – and has failed to score in five of those. So a narrow win looks likely here for Colombia.

Pick: Colombia -1.5 (+175)

Brazil vs Peru Odds

Brazil vs Peru Prediction

Group B leaders Brazil meets a Peru team that has yet to play its first fixture at the tournament.

The game on Friday is a repeat of the final of the most recent Copa America in which Brazil beat Peru 3-1.

Neymar, the Brazilian superstar, has hit the tournament in great form after a disappointing season with Paris Saint-Germain.

And he was among the goalscorers – from a penalty – in the team’s 3-0 defeat of Venezuela in its opening game.

Marquinhos opened the scoring with Neymar’s cross then setting up the third goal for Gabriel Barbosa.

So Neymar has now scored in his last three internationals as he was on target in two World Cup wins earlier this month – 2-0 against Ecuador and then 2-0 against Paraguay.

Brazil Adds Defensive Strength to Fire-Power

It confirmed that Brazil is currently in its familiar red-hot attacking form but is also impressive defensively at the moment.

Peru, meanwhile, scored a 2-1 win away against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifying tie on June 6 – ending a depressing run of four straight defeats.

Neymar is now only 𝟭𝟬 goals behind Pele as Brazil's record scorer 🇧🇷

His 𝟲𝟳𝘁𝗵 international strike saw the #CopaAmerica hosts open with a 3-0 win 🆚 Venezuela pic.twitter.com/HSGclyPymd

— Sport360° (@Sport360) June 14, 2021

At DraftKings, Brazil is rated as a wide favorite at -480 with Peru a huge outsider at +1200.

The draw is priced at +550 with kick-off at 8:00 pm ET in Rio de Janeiro.

During its run of eight wins, Brazil has kept seven clean sheets while scoring 19 times.

Brazil has won eight times since its most recent defeat – a 1-0 friendly setback at home against Argentina in November, 2019.

During its run of eight wins, the in-form team has kept seven clean sheets while scoring 19 times.

Perú finally practiced with a full squad!#CopaAmérica preparations begin.#ArribaPerú pic.twitter.com/K2Gy2BgIUJ

— Diego Montalvan (@DMontalvan) June 13, 2021

That means the best value on offer here is the +175 for Brazil to win by three goals or more (Asian Handicap -2.5).

However, the only goals conceded in that spell came in a 4-2 win against the Peruvians in these teams’ most recent meeting in a World Cup qualifier last October.

OFFICIAL: Brazil have released their squad for the 2021 Copa America. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/0Gk4cNWJaA

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 10, 2021

Peru’s win against Ecuador also ended an eight-game spell without a win which included six defeats and two draws.

Furthermore, Peru has conceded 14 goals in its last six games. So, to sum up, it is highly feasible that Brazil could secure a victory by three goals or more.

Pick: Brazil -2.5 (+175)