Argentina vs Ecuador 09/10/20

09 October 2020

Argentina will be looking to post a third consecutive win over Ecuador when the two nations meet at the Estadio Alberto José Armando in the FIFA World Cup qualifying.

The hosts are unbeaten in seven ahead of this match (W4, D3), scoring over 1.5 goals on five of those occasions. Argentina’s attacking game usually has lately sparked into life after the half-time break, as 63.64% (seven) of their last 11 goals scored arrived in the second half of play. However, ‘La Albiceleste’ have failed to shine in their previous five FIFA World Cup qualifying games (W1, D3, L1), conceding the opening goal in three. But, Argentina must be confident of pulling off a win here, as evidenced by the fact they have won three of five World Cup qualifying H2Hs as hosts this millennium (W3, D1, L1), each without conceding a goal. Worryingly, though, four of their five goals allowed since exiting the 2019 Copa America have come before the 50th minute.

Meanwhile, there’s been no-nonsense defending for Ecuador lately, as they’ve kept a clean sheet in three of their last five outings, conceding precisely once in one of the other two (W3, L2). In turn, despite picking up just three wins from their previous 12 international games (W3, D3, L6), each triumph yielded a clean sheet. However, if they fail to shut out Argentina here, the ‘Tricolors’ are likely to surrender a clean sheet already in the first half of play, given that 64.29% (nine) of their last 14 goals conceded came before the half-time break. Far more aggressive after the break, Gustavo Alfaro’s players have registered the vast majority (87.5%) of their last eight goals scored in the second half (seven).