Copa America Final: Brazil vs Peru preview

Pre-tournament favourites and hosts Brazil will be desperate to please their fans on Sunday, when they take on surprise package Peru in the 2019 Copa America Final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The two teams have also met in the group stage, and that match resulted in a very comfortable 5-0 victory for Brazil, with goals from Casemiro, Roberto Firmino, Everton, Dani Alves and Willian. That was the second consecutive win for Brazil against Peru, but at the 2016 Copa America it was Peru that defeated Brazil 1-0 in the group stage. 

Brazil have all the weight of their fans expectations on their shoulders, they are hosting the tournament and they are fully expected to win it, more so given their 5-0 victory over finalists Peru in the group stage. Brazil have not conceded any goals in their five matches at 2019 Copa America and in the semi-finals they produced a confident display to defeat rivals Argentina 2-0. That result extended Brazil's unbeaten run to fifteen games, all their matches after the 2018 World Cup. Filipe Luis, Richarlison and Fernandinho missed the semi-final match due to injuries and all three might miss the final as well. 

Peru surely weren't expecting to play the final at the 2019 Copa America, not even their most optimistic fans were hoping for such an achievement, especially after being thrashed 5-0 by Brazil in the group stage. However, they qualified for the quarter-finals despite finished third in the group, and then started to produce the upsets. First they held out for a goalless draw against favourites Uruguay and then eliminated them on penalties, and then produced a counter-attacking masterpiece in the semi-finals and defeated title holders Chile 3-0. Peru have not played a Copa America final since 1975, when they also won the trophy. 

Probable line-ups: 

Brazil: Alisson - Alves, Marquinhos, T. Silva, F. Luis - Arthur, Casemiro - Jesus, Coutinho, Everton - Firmino

Peru: Gallese - Advincula, Zambrano, Abram, Trauco - Yotun, Tapia - Carrillo, Cueva, Flores - Guerrero

My prediction: 

Peru have done well in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but they won't be able to cope with the host nation. The Brazilians can't miss this opportunity, so my prediction is Brazil to win 2-0. 

Here are the odds for the match at Bet365: 

Brazil win - 1.28

Draw - 5.00

Peru win - 12.00