Chile vs. Mexico: Date, Time, Live Stream, Prediction and Preview
Two teams hoping to put the disappointment of what might have been at the 2014 World Cup behind them will face off on Saturday as Chile entertain Mexico in California.
Levi's Stadium will host the American continent pair in a friendly setting, but Miguel Herrera and Jorge Sampaoli will be fully intent on ensuring their sides lay on what promises to be an explosive encounter.
Both Chile and Mexico were two of the more tactically enticing outfits to watch in Brazil this summer. We provide full viewing information for the matchup, as well as a rundown of the head-to-head duels likely to dictate proceedings.
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Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
Time: 3 a.m. BST (Sept. 7)/10 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ESPN3 (US)
Key Battles
Gary Medel vs. Oribe Peralta
Swapping the south coast of Wales for the warmer climate of Milan this summer served as an indicator that Gary Medel was meant for bigger things than Cardiff City's Championship plight.
Now at Inter, the midfield anchor is back featuring among Europe's elite but returns to his defensive hub for the national team this weekend where Oribe Peralta promises to give him a stern test of his credentials.
David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com ranks Medel as being among the finest signings in Serie A this summer:
It's a sound estimation given that he managed to maintain an 89 percent passing accuracy with Cardiff last season, winning 61 tackles to boot, per Squawka.
However, his heading prowess isn't quite so substantial and could be an area Peralta hopes to exploit if Mexico can get quality into the box.
Alexis Sanchez vs. Miguel Layun
Another Chilean benefiting from his heightened World Cup profile, Alexis Sanchez also got a big summer move, making the £35 million switch from Barcelona to Arsenal.
The winger was essential in Sampaoli's run to the World Cup round of 16, Medel being the only Chile player to beat him in Squawka's Performance Score rankings.
His reputation as a right winger would see Miguel Layun eyed as his most logical direct opponent, the Mexican left-back having also impressed prior to El Tri's round-of-16 exit.
That being said, South American writer Juan Arango attests that there's a lot more to Sanchez's play than simply hugging the touchline and suggests Arsene Wenger use Sampaoli's method to his own advantage:
Sanchez's work rate means that Layun may have a difficult time making his own probing runs from deep, especially when utility Mauricio Isla promises to offer his team-mate a balance of offensive and defensive cover.
This will be among the most intriguing tactical duels, dependent on how malleable Sanchez is willing to be in terms of cutting in more centrally or choosing to stick wide and supply ammunition.
Prediction
Both Herrera and Sampaoli are sure to experiment in what's likely to be a heated jostle for dominance in midfield. Chile and Mexico both favour three-man defences and load their middle ranks, so the wide areas may prove key.
Each squad has its share of attacking dynamos, Sanchez chief among them, and the tug-of-war is likely to be a close one, ultimately resulting in an entertaining draw.
Prediction: Chile 2-2 Mexico
