Expert’s Opinion on the Match Outcome

Ecuador’s national team has already secured its spot in the World Cup, while Paraguay is on the verge of qualifying for the global tournament. A draw would guarantee their official progression to the main event.

Paraguay’s Home Advantage

In the previous round, Paraguay had a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but Brazil thwarted their efforts with a narrow 1-0 victory. Playing against one of the tournament favorites proved challenging, especially given “La Albirroja”‘s struggles on the road, where they are yet to secure a win. However, their home performance is significantly better, boasting six victories in eight matches. In their last five home games, they consistently found the net, often needing just a 1-0 scoreline for a win, with 2-1 victories being less common.

Ecuador’s Away Form

Similarly, the Ecuadorian national team exhibits excellent form at home, remaining undefeated with five wins and three draws. Their away record, however, is considerably weaker, a typical pattern for a mid-tier South American squad. They have only won twice in eight away fixtures, and under new coach Sebastián Beccacece, who has been at the helm for just over a year, they’ve secured only one away victory against Colombia (1-0). Minimal goal differences or goalless draws are quite frequent for “La Tri” under the Argentine coach, occurring in 8 out of 10 matches.

Past Encounters and Prediction

Their previous encounter in Asunción during the last qualifying campaign was a more open affair, ending 3-1 in favor of Paraguay. However, the current circumstances suggest that a high-scoring game is unlikely. I anticipate a low-scoring match, with Paraguay securing at least a favorable draw.