Iran vs Venezuela Predictions

Since being narrowly knocked out of the World Cup in the summer, Iran have picked up a string of pleasing results. Carlos Queiroz’s men have won each of their three matches since leaving Russia, which means that they should go into this home match against Venezuela feeling confident.

They may have been knocked out at the earliest possible point in Russia, but the Iranians at least performed with credit at times. After two disappointing single-goal defeats, Team Melli left Russia off the back of pleasing 1-1 draw against the Portuguese.

Based on recent results, it appears that Iran have taken what they achieved in Russia and built on it over the last few months, as they’ve won each of their last three matches. During that time, they’ve scored four goals and have conceded just once, while their expected goals for count of 6.25 is pleasing, as is their expected goals against count of 1.75. They’ve not exactly had the toughest tasks of late, but such numbers are still encouraging.

As for the Venezuelans, who weren’t in Russia during the summer, well, they too have played reasonably well of late, and they’ve done so against some useful teams.

Rafael Dudamel’s men found the Colombians a bit too hot to handle back in September, though they fought well to go down by just a single goal, while their performance when Beating Panama by two goals to nil wasn’t too bad either. Last time out, the Venezuelans drew 1-1 with a Japanese side that had previously been in hot scoring form.

With home advantage, Iran aren’t terribly tough to fancy; they’ve played well of late and should be confident, but Venezuela are a good bit better than teams such as Uzbekistan and Trinidad, so it’s easy to feel that the hosts are too short in the betting.

At the prices, the bet that stands out is ‘Both Teams to Score’. Iran have showed plenty in the final third since the World Cup, though their efforts when beating Bolivia by two goals to one last month don’t exactly suggest that they’ll keep a Venezuelan side that is not short of attacking quality completely quiet – MLS top scorer Josef Martinez and Premier League hit man Salomon Rondon could both feature for the visitors. Moreover, Dudamel’s men showed enough in the final third against Japan to suggest that they can compete here, though they didn’t defend as though they’ll go on the road and shutout their hosts any time soon.