Mexico vs Costa Rica Predictions

• Four of Mexico’s last five games saw both teams score and over 2.5 goals.
• Five of Mexico’s last six home victories also produced over 2.5 goals.
• Costa Rica have scored just once across their last five away games.

Mexico’s World Cup dreams are on a knife edge

After trailing for much of their game against Jamaica last time out, it looked like Mexico were going to record a fifth straight winless game before two late goals saw them spring back to life to win and open up a three point gap to fourth place.

With just five games remaining in this qualification cycle, Mexico can seriously bolster their qualification hopes if they can manoeuvre this fixture against Costa Rica. The hosts will be confident of doing just that as you must look back over 20 years ago for their last home defeat against this opposition.

Only games involving Honduras have averaged more total goals per game during this qualification cycle than Mexico (2.3) and that includes three of their last five games producing at least three strikes, suggesting there is an upturn in average goals in the second half of the WCQ ‘season’.

Win or bust for Costa Rica

Costa Rica remained in the hunt with a slender 1-0 victory over Panama last time out, though their dreams of qualification could all but end with defeat here if other teams above them also win.

Damningly, Costa Rica lost each of their last eight away games against sides who currently sit in the top-three of this qualifying group, while two of the most recent three also saw over 2.5 match goals, suggesting that their outsider status is justified.

I predict a Mexico victory with over 2.5 goals, as the win draw win market alone simply offers no value. As a tentative selection, I predict that Mexico simply have too much for Costa Rica to deal with and could run out with a commanding 3-0 victory.