Paraguay vs Ecuador Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

These two sides weren’t among the favourites to qualify when this marathon qualification procedure kicked off back in 2015, given the strength of South American football right now. Ecuador have exceeded expectations and are well placed to secure another finals appearance but Paraguay have a lot of work to do in order to get back in the mix and will view this as a must-win game. That should lead to a relatively open contest and there is the potential for goals at both ends.

Ecuador don’t have a reputation for being a particularly adventurous side but they’ve played some good football over the past couple of years and have been scoring plenty of goals. They average 1.83 goals per game in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and only Brazil and Uruguay can better that in South America. They’ve scored at least once in all but one of their last 15 World Cup qualifiers so will cause Paraguay problems here.

The most surprising thing about their performances of late has been their away form. They’ve always been strong at altitude in Quito but have been very competitive away from home this time, with a win in Argentina already under their belt. You have to go back to September 2013 for the last time they failed to score in an away qualifier but they have only kept 1 clean sheet in their last 19 away from home in World Cup qualifying.

Paraguay should take great encouragement from that and they’ve looked lively at times during qualifying so far but have conceded a few damaging late goals, which leaves them 5 points off the automatic qualifying places at this stage. Their 4-1 home defeat to poor travellers Peru in their most recent outing in Asuncion was also clearly a massive blow. Like Ecuador, there has been a tendency for both teams to score in their games.

That has happened in 4 of their last 5 home qualifiers, with over 2.5 goals in 4 of those games too. Failure to win here will leave their qualification hopes in tatters so they have to go for the win but Ecuador will also sense this is a good chance for 3 precious away points, given what Peru did here at the end of last year. That should lead to an open game and backing Both Teams to Score at 19/20 looks to offer value.