Argentina vs Ecuador Betting Tips

The FIFA World Rankings can’t always be relied upon but few people would argue that right now Argentina look like the strongest side in World football. Since finishing runners-up at the last World Cup, they have hammered champions Germany 4-2 and were somewhat unfortunate to succumb to a penalty shoot-out defeat in the final of Copa America against hosts Chile.

They’ve played 28 matches since the end of the last World Cup qualifying campaign and have only lost twice inside 90 minutes and both were friendly matches. They’ve won 20 of those games and have so much quality in their ranks that even without the injured Leo Messi they should have far too much for Ecuador.

Ecuador were one of the only 2 South American sides to fail to make the Quarter Finals at Copa America and may feel a little hard done by having also missed out on the knock-out stages in Brazil by the finest of margins.

Their qualifying record is excellent for World Cups but almost always it is their home form at altitude in Quito that sees them progress. They didn’t win a single away game during 2014 qualifying but still made the finals and they are unlikely to have much joy on the road this time around either in what is a really tough section.

They were beaten 4-0 in Argentina during that campaign and a relatively convincing home win seems likely here for an Argentina side that has won 7-0 and 6-1 against South American sides in their last 4 fixtures.

Argentina’s home record in World Cup qualifying is extraordinary and they’ve only lost once in their last 42 home qualifiers going back to 1993 and it is rare they even drop points. There is nothing about this game that suggests anything other than a relatively routine home win and Argentina look like good value here at 2.150 starting with a -1.5 Asian Handicap.

With Sergio Aguero fresh from a stunning 5 goal blitz in the Premier League last weekend there could be a few goals for Argentina here but they won’t be that fussed about running up the score with a big game in Paraguay to come next week.

Therefore consider punting on a very comfortable 3-0 home win here at 15/2.