Mexico vs Uruguay Prediction: La Celeste to get the better of El Tri again

Mexico collide with Uruguay at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Thursday morning (02:00) in each side's final international friendly before the Copa America gets underway later this month.

Both teams will want to go into the tournament with as much momentum as they can gather, so they will both be wanting to win here and make sure that they deliver strong performances. Read on for my Mexico vs Uruguay prediction, including match odds and team news.

Mexico vs Uruguay Odds

Mexico are 7/4 to win this match, which gives them a 36.4% chance of victory. Uruguay are valued at 13/8, giving them an implied probability of 38.1%. The draw can be backed at 11/5 (31.3%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 10/11 and over 2.5 goals is 5/4.

Team News

Veteran Uruguayan striker and 2011 Copa America winner, Edinson Cavani, announced his retirement from international football at the age of 37 last week, as he looks to focus on Boca Juniors for the final days of his seasoned career.

This means that he has passed the baton on to Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez, who has huge boots to fill for La Celeste. Rodrigo Bentancur and Manuel Ugarte should make up the midfield, while Federico Valverde, Ronald Araujo and their all-time leading goalscorer, Luis Suarez, are excused from this clash.

Mexico boss Jaime Lozano opted to field eight debutants in Saturday's 1-0 win over Bolivia, and one of them, Ricardo Monreal, teed up Efrain Alvarez for the goal.

Lozano is expected to name a stronger XI in Colorado, which should see Santiago Gimenez, scorer of 23 Eredivisie goals for Feyenoord this, start up front.

Uruguay and both teams to score @ 9/2

Uruguay may have failed to win in their last three outings but I am confident that they will find form here ahead of their Copa America opener against Panama. It wasn't that long ago that Marcelo Bielsa's side defeated Brazil and  reigning world champions Argentina in back-to-back matches, and if they can find that rhythm here then Mexico could be in for a tough evening.

Their recent record against El Tricolor is also favourable, with La Celeste coming out on top in four of the last five encounters, but in just one of those victories did both teams find the back of the net.

No matter, as Mexico have had a habit of being involved in matches in which both teams have scored. BTTS has landed in four of their last six matches, and I have a strong feeling we will see this trend continue in Denver.

I do expect this to be a tight contest, but I do fancy Bielsa's men to edge it and get the win they desperately need before beginning their Copa America journey.

Over 2.5 goals @ 5/4

Naturally, as I see Uruguay coming out on top here and both teams scoring, there should be no issues with over 2.5 goals delivering in Colorado. Uruguay's last three friendlies may have failed to reach the three-goal threshold but it is worth noting that over 2.5 goals has landed in the last three meetings between these two sides.

In addition, four of Mexico's last six appearances has seen the game end with four or more goals. Then when you factor in the quality of the players on offer from both teams, there is more than enough firepower on display to produce at least three goals here.

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