Ecuador vs Argentina Prediction, Tips & Offers

Ecuador will welcome Argentina to their homeland for this World Cup qualification finale as the Ecuadorians face the fact that they must match or better Uruguay's result in order to hold them off and stay within the top four automatic positions.

Regardless, both of these two have qualified for the World Cup now after Peru failed to win their last game which has now kept a four-point gap on Ecuador and Uruguay with only three points remaining. It leaves this game with nothing to play for but Ecuador's chance to keep themselves in third and not fourth.

As for Argentina, qualification to the World Cup was secured before this international break, and they now sit with 35 points from 17 games after their victory over Venezuela. They are once again the favourites to win here, and against a side who have recently qualified, the game should see fewer goals with the hangover of World Cup qualification glory likely still there for Ecuador. With that said, we're backing Argentina to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1.

With World Cup qualification secured for the two-time world champions, there is expected to be some changes to Argentina's team. As per usual, Lionel Messi will still play though, and captain and lead the line for his country. Brighton man Alexis Mac Allister played behind the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner last time out, but he could switch out for Angel Di Maria with Paulo Dybala not in the squad. Manuel Lanzini may also get some action with Angel Correa, but Luca Scaloni could also field changes in the defence with Juan Foyth potentially getting some minutes alongside Lucas Martinez Quarta. Lucas Ocampos was also an unused substitute against Venezuela and he could play here with Rodrigo De Paul and Parades expected in midfield once more with Tagliafico and Molina in the full-back slots, as Nicolas Otamendi plays in defence too.

Ecuador's damning defeat to Paraguay was seriously concerning and it now leaves them in a pickle ahead of the final games of this World Cup qualification process. Regardless, there shouldn't be that many changes to the side with the team all but picking itself, especially in the forward positions. Enner Valencia got booked and came off last time out, but he should lead the line once again for his country in a one-man striker role, as Rojas, Mena, and Castillo all play here for Ecuador. Mendez and Gruezo both played in midfield for the nation last time out too, and there should be no immediate changes to this setup with Jeremey Sarmiento coming into the side at some stage once again. Estupinan and Preciado are the usual full-backs in the Ecuador set up and they should remain here with Galindez in goals and a defensive partnership of Hincapie and Torres in the defence.