Mexico and Venezuela will battle for first place in Group C on Monday at the Copa America 2016.

The battle for first place

Both sides enter the contest with six points, already booking a spot in the quarterfinals. However, the true test comes in this game with the winner likely avoiding the fating of facing off against Argentina in the next round.

A draw serves Mexico, as El Tri currently holds the edge in the first tie breaker, which is goal differential. As a result of two two-goal wins, the Mexicans have a +4 goal difference while Venezuela has a +2 goal difference after winning two straight 1-0 contests.

The game will be a test one for both sides. Mexico has dominated the ball in each of its first two matches but has been highly susceptible to the counter attack.

This is where Venezuela has blossomed, catching teams unattentive on the counter to produce strong chances. The goal against Uruguay is a textbook example of this with Salomon Rondon pouncing on a rebound after a long range shot wound up glancing off the crossbar and right to him. The team had a similar chance in the second half on the counter but could not put it past Fernando Muslera.

Player to Watch

Chicharito is now two goals away from being Mexico's record holder for most goals scored in the national colors. He has been in fine form for the club of late and could very well add to his legacy in the upcoming match. Look for his confidence to come through in this game.

History Favors Mexico

El Tri has won 13 from Venezuela and has only been defeated on two occasions, both coming before 1984. The two sides have also battled to three draws, with two of them coming in the last six years.

Prediction

Mexico is in the driver's seat playing arguably the most consistent soccer of the tournament so far. Look for a 2-0 win from them.

Start Time and Streaming Info

The game starts at 8 p.m. and can be viewed on either Fox Sports 1 or Univision. Those with a FuboTV subscription can also catch the action on their mobile devices.


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