Brazil beat Venezuela in their 2021 CONMEBOL Copa America debut

Brazil got off to a great start in their persuit of a second consecutive title at the CONMEBOL Copa América. With goals from Marquinhos, Neymar and Gabigol, Tite’s team beat Venezuela 3-0 at the Estádio Mané Garrincha in Brasilia.

Venezuela’s Portuguese boss José Peseiro opted for cautious, defensive approach and set up a compact system from the start. Efforts to resist the dangerous Brazilian attack meant it was the Seleção who took the role of protagonists in the game.

The breakthrough came on 22 minutes as a Neymar corner broke loose in the box and Marqueinhos held off his marker and finished with impressive composure. The defender was perhaps an unlikely opening 2021 CONMEBOL Copa America scorer but he took the chance with aplomb.

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Brazil won a penalty 18 minutes into the second half and stuttered run up Neymar dispatched in typically confident fashion.

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Brazil finished off an impressive, professional performance with a late Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa finish from close range following another important contribution from key man Neymar.

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Tite’s side produced the type of controlled performance we have become accustomed to in South America. Venezuela were competive and organized throughout and will feel confident their efforts should be rewarded with potints in upcoming fixtures.

Next thuesday Brazil will face Peru at the Estadio Nilton Santos in Río de Janeiro while Venezuela play Colombia at the Estádio Olí­mpico in Goiânia.

Key details from today’s game

• Tite’s Brazil has not conceded in six of the seven games in the Copa América (5wins, 2 losses). Peru are the only team to score against his side in this competition, with the Seleção coming out on top 3-1.
• Brazil have opened with victories in five of the six editions of the Copa América played in their country (1 draw). In 2019 they won 3-0 against Bolivia, the same result as in 2021 against Venezuela.
• Brazil extend their unbeaten streak against Venezuela in the Copa América to nine games (7 wins, 2 draws). During this period Brazil kept a clean sheet in 7 games.
• Neymar scored his 67th goal for Brazil. He is the second top scorer in the history of the Brazilian national team and is now just 10 goals behind Pelé’s record.
• Marquinhos scored his third goal for the Brazilian national team. In the three matches that he has scored Brazil have always won and never conceded. They secured a 5-0 win against Bolivia in Qualifiers, 5-0 against El Salvador in a friendly and this 3-0 victory against Venezuela.
  
  Datos: OPTA