Prediction: Argentina vs Ecuador

Verdict: Argentina win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to open their World Cup qualifying campaign with an early statement of intent in the early hours of Friday, Argentina will welcome Ecuador to Buenos Aires.

Argentina

Starting with the hosts, making real history out in the Middle East last winter as they got their hands on a first World Cup crown since 1986, Argentina are in the midst of what has been a record-breaking flurry. Only continuing to gain a string of plaudits under Lionel Scaloni, La Albiceleste will simply have their sights set on making an early qualifying statement here. Continuing on their remarkable purple patch since opening 2023, the South American giants certainly find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Signing off their pre-qualifying run with a routine 2-0 victory against Indonesia back on June 19th, Argentina have now won each of their last 10 straight appearances across all competitions. Likewise, despite opening their winter World Cup romp with an infamous 2-1 loss at the hands of Saudi Arabia, it should be highlighted that is the only defeat that Friday’s hosts have suffered from any of their previous 47 straight appearances – a run that stems all the way back to July 2019.

Team News

Continuing on a remarkable free-scoring flurry since arriving at Inter Miami this summer and already notching 11 strikes across all competitions, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi will spearhead Argentina’s charge here. Likewise, the American-based duo of Thiago Almada (Atlanta United) and Alan Velasco (FC Dallas) have also been included in Scaloni’s squad this month.

Premier League stars such as Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero will also feature this weekend.

Ecuador

As for the visitors, suffering what was a frustrating World Cup campaign out in Qatar over the winter as they missed out on the chance to claim a knockout stage ticket, Ecuador have come roaring back since. Not showing any real signs of a hangover since opening 2023, La Tri open their qualifying adventure in the midst of a recent boost. Signing off their pre-qualifying preparations with a routine 3-1 win against Costa Rica, Felix Sanchez Bas’ side have won each of their last three friendly showdowns by an aggregate score of 6-2. However, while Ecuador might still be smelling the chance to punch another automatic World Cup ticket, Friday’s guests will know that they face a stern opening challenge this weekend. including a 3-0 drumming in their last trip to Argentina back in July 2021, Bas’ men have won just one of their last 11 meetings against the reigning world champions.

Team News

Making a record-breaking £115million move to Premier League giants Chelsea this summer, Moises Caicedo will start at the heart of Bas’ midfield in Buenos Aires. Likewise, veteran striker and ex-West Ham star Enner Valencia will once again lead Ecuador’s charge in the early hours of Friday.

Impressing this season with Belgium outfit Club Brugge, 19-year-old Joel Ordonez should earn a first senior cap here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Argentina last hosted Ecuador back in July 2021, the reigning world champions picked up a 3-0 romp.
• Likewise, Friday’s hosts have suffered just a single loss from any of their previous 11 straight meetings against La Tri.
• Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has notched 11 strikes across all formats since making the move to Inter Miami this summer.
• Ecuador have managed to muster just a single win from any of their last seven World Cup qualifying appearances on foreign soil.
• Argentina have remarkably lost one of their previous 47 straight appearances – a run that stems all the way back to July 2019.

Conclusion

Only continuing to build on their winter World Cup success, Argentina should be smelling the chance to lay down an early qualifying statement here. Winning each of their last 10 straight contests across all formats and also suffering just a single defeat since way back in July 2019, the South American giants will be excited by a return to Buenos Aires in the early hours of Friday. Claiming a routine 3-0 romp when they last welcomed Ecuador to town two years ago, we are expecting a similar outcome.

Verdict: Argentina win & Under 4.5 goals

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet