| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
URUGUAY  Muslera Caceres, Godin, Lugano, A. Pereira Gonzalez, Perez, Arevalo, Ramirez Suarez, Cavani | CHILE  Bravo O. Gonzalez, Ponce, Contreras Isla, Diaz, Medel, Mena Fernandez Sanchez, Suazo |
Oscar Tabarez's men face an injury crisis heading into the game. Strikers Diego Forlan and Abel Hernandez, midfielders Alvaro Fernandez and Walter Gargano, and defender Jorge Fucile are all out with injury. In addition, Maximiliano Pereira is absent due to suspension.
As usual, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez will start in attack. Instead of playing a midfielder directly behind the strikers, Tabarez will place Gaston Ramirez on the left wing to shore up the midfield. In defence, Diego Godin and Diego Lugano will be paired together in the centre.
Claudio Borghi is facing a similar crisis, but not due to injury. On Wednesday, the former Boca Juniors coach suspended Arturo Vidal, Jorge Valdivia, Jean Beausejour, Gonzalo Jara and Carlos Carmona, all of whom were punished for missing curfew on Tuesday night as they attended a party to celebrate the baptism of Valdivia's child.
With numerous changes needing to be made, the coach called upon Universidad de Chile's Marcelo Diaz to replace Vidal in the middle of the pitch, while Diaz's club team-mate Osvaldo Gonzalez replaces Jara to solidify the defence. Up top, Alexis Sanchez, who injured his hamstring in September while playing for Barcelona, will start after declaring himself fit to play and will work alongside Humberto Suazo in attack.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Uruguay currently sit top of the table in the Conmebol qualifiers with four points from two games. The Copa America champions defeated Bolivia and drew with Paraguay.
- Tabarez's men have not lost in their last 11 games.
- The two-time World Cup winners will play Italy early next week. With nine teams in qualifying due to Brazil's automatic bid as hosts, the rotation of teams having an open fixture sees Uruguay's break in the fourth round of matches.
- Chile are a point back of their opponents on Friday in the qualifiers, having defeated Peru after losing to Argentina.
- With their win over the Peruvians in the second game of qualifying in October, the 2010 World Cup participants halted a stretch of five games without victory.
- The two teams tied in their last meeting, a 1-1 draw in the group stage of this past summer's Copa America.
Prediction
There is a reason why Uruguay haven't lost since May. The continent's top team should continue their form on Friday.
Editor's Prediction
Uruguay 2-0 Chile 
