Ecuador vs Chile
South American giants Chile head to the Olimpico Atahualpa Stadium in Ecuador on Sunday in a game they just can’t afford to lose, but that is easier said than done!
Ecuador are currently third in the South American World Cup 2022 qualification table and they have a realistic chance of qualifying for Qatar automatically. Head coach Gustavo Alfaro has his young team playing with confidence and a win for the Tricolor would cement their place in the top four.
But the South American qualification remains wide open and a victory for Chile would draw Martin Lasarte’s team level on points with their hosts.
The top four teams will qualify automatically for the 2022 World Cup and while eight games are already completed, a victory for either team would have a huge impact on the remainder of the qualification.
Chile know they must get a good result before they visit Colombia next week, so it’s now or never for La Roja.
Talking Points
Ecuador are eyeing back–to–back wins
Ecuador met their familiar foes Paraguay on Wednesday and two late goals were enough to secure another valuable three points to elevate them to third.
They have bounced back well from a disappointing Copa America where they failed to win any of their games, but there was no sign of a hangover when Felix Torres headed home the opener before Michael Estrada scored a brilliant individual goal.
It was the 25-year-old’s fourth goal of the qualifying campaign and he’ll be a handful for the Chilean defence.
Alfaro knows the World Cup 2022 betting odds won’t feature his side heavily and that Chile is always a nation closely watched by the pundits, but he has a vibrant young team which will go into this game without fear.
Chile in a rut
While Alfaro is running a happy camp, Chile head coach Martin Lasarte is under more pressure as la Roja’s World Cup 2022 results have been disappointing to say the least.
With only one win in eight in the competition, Chile sit in seventh place and three points behind the automatic fourth spot.
Current form is a real concern as La Roja is following up a mediocre Copa America campaign — where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Brazil — with a worrying start in the World Cup qualifiers. And sitting seventh after eight rounds does not constitute a blip!
Chile need to pick up points in games against the likes of Ecuador if they are to climb the table and this is definitely a must-win encounter.
In their last outing on Thursday, Chile took on Brazil in the hope of wrecking the Selacao’s perfect start and they had as good a chance as they ever will as Brazil were missing nine players and five starters due to England’s COVID-19 restrictions not allowing the Premier League players to travel.
But Brazil still had too much for La Roja, winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from substitute Everton Ribiero.
The visitors will be without top striker Alexis Sanchez as the Inter Milan man is sidelined with a calf injury and they too have a couple of players stranded in England.
But they have a side packed with experience. Chile will likely be captained by Claudio Bravo and with warriors Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel in the middle of the park, there will be no lack of bite while Eduard Vargas is likely to lead the Chile attack.
History
The recent head-to-head meetings have been fiercely contested. Chile have won six of the last 12 encounters, Ecuador have won five and there has been a single draw in all the meetings since 2004. Chile won the last encounter 2-1 at the 2019 Copa America.
Going further back, the Chileans have won 30 to Ecuador’s 12. But in the 21st century, the Tricolor have emerged as a more confident football nation.
Ecuador’s victory against Paraguay ended a run of seven games without a win, but that sequence included matches against the top sides – two against Brazil, a 2-0 defeat in the World Cup, and a 1-1 draw in the Copa America.
Meanwhile, Chile is without a win in six away games.
Betting Tip
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Ecuador vs Chile | 1X2 Draw @ 3.10 |
| September 6, 05:00 (GMT+8) |
Ecuador is at SBOTOP odds of 2.21 to win the game with Chile at 3.06. And while at 55th in the FIFA World Rankings, the hosts are a full 35 places behind La Roja.
With home advantage combined with Chile’s difficulties away from home, that makes this an even contest.
A tight game with under 2.25 goals is available at 1.84, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a 0-0 or a 1-1 draw.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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