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November 18 2024, 18:15 · Trystan Pugh
Updated: November 19 2024, 13:46

Colombia vs Ecuador Preview: Team News & Prediction

Colombia vs Ecuador Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Home specialists Colombia welcome a defensively resolute Ecuador side to Barranquilla with both sides very much in the running for a qualification spot.

Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 19th November, 2024: UK – 11:00pm / US ET – 6:00pm / US PT – 3:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Fanatiz

Colombia Preview: Late heartbreak at Uruguay

Colombia's struggles in Uruguay - no wins there this century - continued last week with a 3-2 defeat to Marcelo Bielsa's side in a dramatic contest that included a goal in injury-time from both teams. Uruguay's Manuel Ugarte was the villain of the piece from Colombia's perspective, popping up with the winner for the hosts in the 101st minute.

Nestor Lorenzo's men have now lost two of their last three qualifiers, but their home form is what keeps them in a strong position in the table having picked up 13 points from a possible 15 in Barranquilla to date.

Ecuador Preview: Defensively superb

Ecuador strengthened their World Cup hopes with a resounding 4-0 victory over Bolivia week, and with just four goals conceded in their 11 games to date, they boast the best defensive record in the CONMEBOL section.

If it wasn't for the three-point deduction they received prior to the start of their campaign for fielding an ineligible player in the previous qualification cycle, Felix Sanchez' men would be on the same amount of points - 19 - as their opponents.

Colombia Team News: Rodriguez back in?

With a clean bill of health after the last round of games, Lorenzo does have options should he wish to tinker with his line-up, and he will strongly consider a start for James Rodriguez, who was relegated to a bench role against Uruguay.

The versatile Jhon Arias was deployed in a more attacking role last week and could be trusted again, while Premier League pair Luis Diaz and Jhon Duran should once again spearhead the Colombian attack.

PREDICTED XI (4-3-1-2): Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Rios, Portilla, Arias; Rodriguez; Duran, Diaz

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

Ecuador Team News: Caicedo available

Ecuador can welcome back Moises Caicedo from suspension, the Chelsea midfielder having watched the Bolivia win from the stands.

That could be the only change to the starting line-up, with Alan Franco likely to make way in the middle of the park, although 17-year-old Kendry Paez' impressive cameo from the bench will have given Sanchez food for thought when it comes to his team selection. 

PREDICTED XI (4-5-1): Galindez; Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie, Estupinan; Yeboah, Plata, Caicedo, Vite, Minda; Valencia

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE:

Key Stats

  • Colombia are unbeaten in their last nine World Cup qualifying matches at home against Ecuador (W6 D3). Since a 1-0 defeat in July 1965 (their first FWCQ encounter against Ecuador in Colombia).
  • Colombia have lost only three of their last 19 World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador (W8 D8).
  • Colombia have kept 13 clean sheets in their last 17 World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador.
  • Colombia have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight World Cup qualifying matches at home against Ecuador.
  • Colombia have won five and drawn one of their last six World Cup qualifying matches at home.
  • Colombia have lost only one of their last 12 World Cup qualifying matches at home (W6 D5).
  • Ecuador have lost only one of their last ten World Cup qualifying matches (W5 D4).
  • Ecuador have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight World Cup qualifying matches.
  • Ecuador have not conceded a goal in their last four World Cup qualifying matches.

Colombia vs Ecuador Prediction

This promises to be an intriguing battle between a Colombia side who have been excellent at home in recent years and an Ecuador outfit who have made themselves one of the toughest sides to score against in South America.

With four straight clean sheets in qualifying, the visitors will once again look to make life difficult for their opponents, but it is difficult to ignore the fact that Colombia haven't lost a home game for almost two years. Neither side will want to given an inch here, and that is likely to result in a fairly low-scoring encounter when all is said and done.

Colombia vs Ecuador Tip: Under 2.5 goals