We have a cracker in store this week this week as Ivory Coast lock horns with Norway in what looks like one of the more evenly balanced ties the round of 32 lineup at the World Cup has to offer.
Ivory Coast finished 2nd in Group E with six points having beaten Ecuador (1-0) and Curacao (2-0), while losing 2-1 to Germany amidst those games.
The defeat to Germany was a frustrating one as it was a game they could've won had they been more clinical on the counter, but they gave more than a good account of themselves.
They'll take confidence from how they performed against Germany heading into the game against Norway, knowing they can go toe-to-toe - and at times outplay - a top European team.
The Ivorians enter this game in very good form, with eight wins and just two defeats from their last ten games. Six of those ten games have seen over 2.5 goals scored, so they're rarely involved in dull encounters.
Norway, meanwhile, finished 2nd in Group I. The European side beat Iraq 3-1 before surging to a 3-2 win over Senegal in their second game.
The win over Senegal was a convincing performance in a game that many thought would be close, with a one-goal deficit flattering Senegal.
A heavily rotated side lost 4-1 to France on the final matochday, but that result will be of little concern to them and will only mean their big stars are well rested for this game.
Like Ivory Coast, Norway have lost only two of their last ten games, and their matches tend to be entertaining affairs with 70% of their last ten seeing at least three goals scored.
With only two places separating these two teams in the world rankings and with both sides amidst similar runs of form, it feels very difficult to separate them.
Of all the last 32 ties, this one arguably feels the most likely to head to extra time, and that's what we're going to back here, with the Norwegians ultimately winning on penalties.
Ivory Coast 2-2 Norway (Norway to win on penalties)
