LIVE: Brazil vs Venezuela

25′ OFFSIDE! It’s another great cross in from the left with Lodi whipping a great cross into the middle of the box. Richarlison gets to it ahead of Luis Martinez and pokes the ball across the line, only for the flag to go up and deny him as he set off too early.

23′ MARQUINHOS SCORES! Another of Neymar’s corners causes problems in the box as Richarlison flicks it on at the near post. Marquinhos outmuscles Luis Martinez in the middle to reach the loose ball and bundles it across the line to score the first goal of the 2021 Copa America. 1-0 Brazil!

22′ Venezuela have a rare chance to attack now with Casseres making good progress down the left until Militao slides in to take it off him. It falls for Aristeguieta but the offside flag goes straight up against him.

20′ SAVE! Neymar’s corner is headed away by Del Pino ahead of Militao, but his clearance falls to Danilo. He chests it down and lets it bounce before hitting the shot on the volley, but it’s straight at Graterol, who holds onto it.

19′ Brazil are unbeaten in their last 20 Copa America games on home soil (W12 D8). Their last defeat in Brazil was against Peru when they were beaten 3-1 in 1975.

17′ La Mantia spins away from Fred before playing a great throughball forward for Jose Martinez to chase down the right. He holds off Lodi to get on the end of it but sees his cross put out for a corner by Marquinhos.

15′ Brazil are getting a lot of joy down their left side and Neymar is being given a lot of time on the ball. Jesus is making a late run into the box, so he tries to pick him out with a cross, but it’s straight into Graterol’s gloves.

13′ Neymar drives through midfield again before switching play out to Lodi on the left. It looks like he’s overhit the pass, but the left-back manages to keep it in play by drilling a low cross into the box, but it’s blocked by La Mantia.

11′ CLOSE! Brazil are keeping the pressure on here and Neymar plays a short corner to Lodi. He curls a brilliant cross into the middle of the box where Militao is waiting, but he sends his header just wide of the far post.

10′ GOOD SAVE! Neymar makes a driving run down the left before playing the ball forward for Richarlison with the outside of his boot. The forward touches it towards goal first time, but Graterol reaches out a hand to push it out for a corner.

8′ CHANCE! Neymar whips a dangerous corner into the near post and Richarlison makes a late run to flick it towards the back. Jesus tries to get there, but it’s just out of his reach on the stretch and it bounces out of play.

6′ Marquinhos plays another good ball over the top to pick out Jesus’ run down the right this time and he tries to link up with Danilo. Venezuela are staying compact though and neither of them can find a way into the box.

4′ Neymar takes too long to pick out a pass and Manzano is quickly in to nick it off him. He tries to set Aristeguieta on the counter through the middle but plays the ball straight against Casemiro.

2′ Venezuela have everyone sitting deep in their own half, but Marquinhos plays a wonderful ball over the top to pick out Danilo on the right. He curls a cross into the near post, but Richarlison’s first touch lets him down and Luis Martinez hooks it clear.

1′ Aristeguieta gets the game underway for Venezuela!

The teams are out on the pitch for the national anthems and kick-off is now just moments away!

Brazil are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Venezuela in all competitions (W5 D3), but two of those draws have been in the Copa America, with both finishing 0-0.

Jose Peseiro is forced into making seven changes to his team after 12 Venezuela players and staff returned a positive coronavirus test. Only Graterol, Gonzalez, Moreno and Jose Martinez retain their places from the team that faced Uruguay and the manager only has seven players available to him on the bench.

Tite makes just three changes to the side that started their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay last time out, bringing in Alisson, Lodi and Paqueta. Ederson, Alex Sandro and Firmino drop to the bench.

VENEZUELA SUBS: Richard Celis, Ronald Hernandez, Wuilker Farinez, Luis Romero, Sergio Cordova, Edson Castillo, Jhon Murillo.

VENEZUELA STARTING XI (4-5-1): Joel Graterol; Alexander Gonzalez, Yohan Cumana, Luis Adrian Martinez, Luis Del Pino; Bernaldo Manzano, Jose Martinez, Junior Moreno, Francisco La Mantia, Cristian Casseres Jr; Fernando Aristeguieta.

BRAZIL SUBS: Roberto Firmino, Vinicius Junior, Fabinho, Weverton, Everton, Everton Ribeiro, Thiago Silva, Gabriel Barbosa, Ederson, Emerson, Felipe, Alex Sandro.

BRAZIL STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Renan Lodi; Casemiro, Fred; Richarlison, Lucas Paqueta, Neymar; Gabriel Jesus.

A year after the tournament was originally due to take place, the hosts Brazil get the tournament underway as they look to defend their trophy. They won their ninth title in 2019, and are among the favourites to retain it this time around. They’ve won each of their last seven games in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in six of those. Venezuela reached the quarter-finals two years ago before being knocked out by Argentina, but they’ve struggled recently, winning just one of their last six matches (D1 L4).

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the opening game of the 2021 Copa America between Brazil and Venezuela at the Estadio Nacional Marie Garrincha in Brasilia!