The Uruguay national team will be the next big team from South American football to play in the Copa America at 08:00 on June 24, facing a much lower-rated opponent, the Panama national team. This is considered a good opportunity for Marcelo Bielsa’s team to have a favorable start in the campaign to seek the South American championship cup for the first time in many years.

Expert opinions on the Uruguay vs Panama match

In addition to Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay is also considered a very strong candidate for the Copa America championship due to a relatively quality squad and a well-structured playing style by the wizard Marcelo Bielsa. In such a position, Uruguay will certainly aim for nothing but a resounding victory against Panama in their opening match. Le Celeste has timely regained the winning spirit just before the Copa America with a 4-0 victory over Mexico, a great morale boost after 3 consecutive draws and losses. Clearly, Marcelo Bielsa’s team has shown their readiness, and a victory and topping Group C are almost prerequisites for Uruguay.

Uruguay vs Panama match analysis — Playing style of Uruguay vs Panama

Uruguay’s next opponent in a few days will be Panama, a team with less strength and not very impressive form. In particular, the defense of the guest team from the CONCACAF region is not highly rated for its solidity, so they may have to face 90 minutes of relentless attacks from Uruguay’s star-studded offense.

Panama has only kept a clean sheet once in their last 5 matches and conceded 6 goals against not very strong opponents. In the squad of coach Thomas Christiansen, there are no particularly outstanding stars to make a difference, so if Panama regroups to defend against Uruguay, it would not be surprising.

Overview of past head-to-head records between Uruguay and Panama

Due to geographical distance and level, Uruguay and Panama have only met 3 times throughout history. In which, the sky blue team dominated with a 100% winning rate, while Panama still had to strive to find their first 3 points. However, at the present time, perhaps that goal of the Red Tide will have to be temporarily set aside.

Bookmaker’s odds for the Uruguay vs Panama match

Entering the opening match, coach Marcelo Bielsa is likely to field the strongest lineup. Unlike the golden age in the striker position in the 2010s, the current strength of La Celeste is focused on the midfield with Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, and especially the superstar Fede Valverde. These players will be the launchpad for forward Darwin Nunez in the attacking line.

Analysis of the match between Uruguay vs Panama — Uruguay vs Panama betting odds

On the Panama side, a lineup that leans towards tight defense will be a reasonable choice. The team of coach Thomas Christiansen is considered the weakest in the group but has to face Uruguay in the first match, which will be a big challenge for the fighting spirit and the goal of advancing to the knockout stage of the Red Tide.

Uruguay -1.5: The handicap ratio of Uruguay against Panama is the highest goal difference since the beginning of Copa America until now. This reflects the class difference between the two teams, and with a strong and consistent attack, winning by a margin of 2 goals or more is not difficult for Bielsa’s team.
Total goals: In the last 3 out of 5 matches of Uruguay, there have been 3 or more goals, while Panama has only kept a clean sheet in 1 match out of the same number of matches. With a strong offense against a weak defense, the total goals of 2.75 is a reasonable choice for betting enthusiasts.
Darwin Nunez to score: The Liverpool striker has scored 7 goals in his last 5 matches for Uruguay, most recently a hat-trick against Mexico in a 4-0 victory on 6/6. Nunez’s talent is always evident in the sky blue shirt, and betting on this player to score is a sensible and high-odds choice.

Information about the strength of Uruguay and Panama

Both teams have their best players available

Predicted line-up for the match Uruguay vs Panama

Uruguay (4-3-3): Rochet, Nández, Olivera, Jose Gimenez, Olaza, Ugarte, Bentancur, Valverde, Pellistri, Araujo, Darwin.
Panama (5-4-1): Mosquera, Harvey, Cordoba, Miller, Murillo, Martinez, Godoy, Davis, Barcenas, Diaz, Fajardo.

Predicted score for the match: Uruguay 4-0 Panama