Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-In a rematch of the 2021 Copa America quarter-finals, defending champions Argentina squared off with Ecuador at NRG Stadium in Houston on Friday, securing a place in the last four.
La Seleccion topped Group A with a 100% record, winning their previous match against Peru 2-0, while Ecuador held Mexico to a 0-0 draw, finishing second in Group B.
Match preview
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-Statistically speaking, the opening phase of the tournament has been almost flawless for Lionel Scaloni’s men, who have won all three of their encounters and are unbeaten.
All five of their goals in the opening round came in the second half and they haven’t conceded in a Copa America match since the 2019 semi-finals (a 2–0 loss against Brazil).
The Argentines have won eight straight matches in all competitions and have conceded just two goals in that stretch.
Their last three appearances in the quarter-finals of this tournament have been a breeze, with Argentina winning those bouts by a combined margin of 9-1.
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-Only once this century have we seen them lose in the quarter-finals of this tournament, when they hosted the event in 2011 and lost on penalties to Uruguay (5-4).
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-Argentina have never lost to Ecuador in the Copa America, winning 3-0 against them in the 2021 quarter-finals, while the World Cup holders have advanced to this stage four times in a row.
Despite being on the back foot for a good part of their previous match, Ecuador did enough to hold off the Mexicans and claim a place in the knockout stages on goal difference. Football.
It is the second time in a row that La Tri have qualified for the last eight of the tournament, while they have now reached the quarter-finals in three of the previous four Copa Americas.
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-Felix Sanchez has a chance to take his side to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 1993, with the Ecuadorians having lost three consecutive Copa America matches in the last eight.
Ecuador are yet to concede a first-half goal in this competition, although they netted just once in the opening 45 minutes as they lost 2-1 to Venezuela.
The last time they scored the first goal in a quarter-final game of this tournament was in 1997 when they lost 4-3 on penalties against Mexico after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
They have lost six of their previous seven competitive matches against Argentina, with their last win against them coming in 2015 (2–0).
Team News
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-Argentina captain Lionel Messi missed their last group fixture with hamstring discomfort, although he took part in full training this week and is expected to feature on Thursday.
Messi, Alexis McAllister, Julian Alvarez, and Rodrigo de Paul were among the numerous players Scaloni rested over the three match days.
Lautaro Martínez scored for the fourth time as his brace led Argentina to victory over Peru, while Emiliano Martínez has posted four consecutive clean sheets at the 2021 tournament.After missing their previous match through suspension, Ecuador’s record goalscorer Ener Valencia played the full 90 minutes of the three matches, replacing John Yeboh.
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction-That was the only change made to their starting, when Jose Hurtado was the only new player to start for them, coming on for Angelo Preciado in second-half stoppage time.
Alexander Dominguez stopped four Mexican shots to collect his first clean sheet in the Copa America this year and his first with La Tri since March (2-0 win over Guatemala).
Argentina’s probable starting lineup:
Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lee. Martinez, Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, McAllister; Messi, La Martinez, Alvarez
Ecuador Probable Starting Lineup:
Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Franco, M. Caicedo; Yeboah, Payez, Sarmiento; Valencia
Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction: Argentina 1-0 Ecuador
Ecuador are capable of frustrating their opponents, as they showed in match three, but Argentina are more comfortable in close games and have had a number of individuals throughout the tournament who have stepped up and made the difference.