Ecuador vs Uruguay Betting Tips

These are the two smallest countries on the continent but they tend to punch well above their weight in this competition and they have each qualified for 3 of the last 4 World Cups. The early signs are good for both again this time around.

Ecuador got off to a stunning start with a 2-0 win in Argentina and managed to back it up with a more predictable 2-0 home win against Bolivia. All 4 of their goals came in the final ten minutes which suggests they are an extremely fit side and in the altitude of Quito that can be very significant.

Uruguay are also yet to concede though and won at an even higher altitude than Quito against Bolivia in their first match before a convincing 3-0 win over Colombia back in Montevideo.

They look a much improved outfit on the side that went out of the World Cup in fairly limp fashion without Luis Suarez in the last 16 in Brazil, also against Colombia. Their wins last month were without Suarez, who is still serving his long international ban here, or Edinson Cavani so they clearly have strength in depth.

The PSG forward is likely to return to the starting line-up here which should only boost their chances. Ecuador are odds on favourites to win this game though, mostly due to their excellent record at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa.

They have only lost 2 of their last 28 home World Cup qualifiers but Uruguay have tended to fair better than most losing just 1 of their last 4 competitive games in Ecuador. With confidence high in the visiting camp they should be able to get a result from the game and are decent value to do so at 19/20.

Ecuador’s 2-0 win in Argentina may prove to be little more than a freak result, especially when you consider that they couldn’t even get out of the group at Copa America this year.

It’s hard to see them losing here given how strong they are at home but they might not have enough class to frequently break down a really well drilled Uruguay side so consider backing a 1-1 draw at 11/2.