Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Colombiavs.Ecuador

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 November 2024, 10:44
Colombia will be bidding to bounce back from a defeat when they continue their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a clash against Ecuador on Tuesday night.

Nestor Lorenzo's side will enter the contest off the back of a 3-2 loss to Uruguay, which saw them drop into third spot in the table, while Ecuador recorded a 4-0 victory over Bolivia last time out to make it four matches unbeaten.

Match preview

Colombia thought that they had snatched a late point against Uruguay on Friday, with Andres Gomez levelling the scores at 2-2 in the 96th minute of the contest, but Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte had other ideas, scoring a third for Uruguay in the 11th minute of added time at the end of the 90 to secure all three points for the hosts.

Lorenzo's team have now been beaten in two of their last three qualification matches, having also lost 1-0 to Bolivia last month, and they have dropped down to third spot in the table, with Uruguay moving above them.

Despite the recent disappointment, it has still been a solid campaign for La Sele, boasting a record of five wins, four draws and two defeats from 11 matches to collect 19 points, just three points behind the leaders Argentina.

Colombia will conclude their 2024 with a clash against Ecuador on Tuesday evening and will then not be back in action until next March against Brazil, who are currently down in fourth spot in the table.

La Tricolor have taken part in the finals of six World Cups, but they missed out on the 2022 edition of the tournament and will therefore be even more determined to secure a spot in the 2026 competition.

Ecuador, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 4-0 win over Bolivia, with Gonzalo Plata netting a brace, while Enner Valencia and Alan Minda also registered for the hosts.

La Tri are unbeaten in their last four matches, beating Peru and Bolivia, in addition to drawing with Paraguay and Uruguay, since suffering a 1-0 defeat to Brazil at the start of September.

Sebastian Beccacece's side are currently fifth in the table, picking up 16 points from their 11 matches, which has left them just three points behind second-placed Uruguay with plenty of football still left to play.

Ecuador actually have the best defensive record in their qualification group, having conceded just four times in 11 matches, while no team in the section has lost fewer games (two).

La Tricolor competed at the finals of the 2022 World Cup, but they were unable to advance past the group stage, with their best-ever performance at the competition coming in 2006 - advancing to the round of 16 before losing to England.

Colombia World Cup Qualifying - South America form:

W

D

W

L

W

L

Colombia form (all competitions):

L

D

W

L

W

L

Ecuador World Cup Qualifying - South America form:

W

L

W

D

D

W

Ecuador form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

D

W

Team News

Colombia have not reported any injury problems from their clash with Uruguay last time out, and head coach Lorenzo is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack due to the incredible nature of the defeat.

Luis Diaz will be bidding to add to the 16 goals that he has scored for his country, and the Liverpool attacker is again set to be joined in the final third of the field by Aston Villa's Jhon Duran.

James Rodriguez is again likely to be used off the bench by Lorenzo, with Juan Fernando Quintero in line to feature as the number 10, while the impressive Richard Rios is a certainty in midfield.

As for Ecuador, Plata came up with a brace from midfield against Bolivia last time out, and the number 19 will again be in the XI, while Valencia will lead the line once more.

Still going strong at the age of 35, Valencia has 43 goals in 94 caps for his country, and he should be supported by John Yeboah and Minda in the wide positions on Tuesday night.

Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho and Pervis Estupinan will also be notable starters for Ecuador here, while Chelsea's Moises Caicedo is back from a suspension and will line up in the middle of the Ecuadorian midfield.

Colombia possible starting lineup:

Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Rios, Portilla, Arias; Quintero; Duran, Diaz

Ecuador possible starting lineup:

Galindez; Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie, Estupinan; Yeboah, Plata, Caicedo, Vite, Minda; Valencia

We say: Colombia 1-1 Ecuador

Ecuador are a very good outfit with a brilliant defence, and we are expecting this to be a tough match for Colombia. It would not be a shock to see a victory either way, but we believe that the two sides will play out a low-scoring draw on Tuesday night.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk For the first time in the CONCACAF Nations League, Canada and Mexico will face each other, with a spot in the final at stake on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In the first semi-final of the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League, the reigning three-time champions, the USA, host Panama on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in California. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday Jordan will look to climb into a top two position when they host Palestine at Amman International Stadium on matchday seven of the World Cup 2026 qualification cycle for both teams. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to step up their pursuit of Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen over the international break. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly included Victor Osimhen on a four-man striker shortlist for the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town have reportedly been impressed by Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland but could face competition from Sunderland for his signature. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The first international break of the year will see Liberia take on Tunisia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex this Wednesday in the fifth round of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The first clash in this international break's double-header sees the Central African Republic face Madagascar at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in neutral Morocco on Wednesday in the fifth round of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying series. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly prepared to consider selling Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz as it emerges they have seemingly made contact with Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. 17 March 2025 talksport.com A Bulgarian first division team held a minute's silence for a former player... only to later discover he's still alive. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi has been omitted from Argentina's squad list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. 17 March 2025 talksport.com After some backlash to his claims that he's the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has some support in the opposition dugout. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning European champions Barcelona Women will head to Germany for Wednesday's Women's Champions League clash against Wolfsburg Women. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Just a few days after they face off in the Women's League Cup final, Manchester City Women will lock horns with Chelsea Women in the first leg of the Women's Champions League quarter-finals. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has left the club, the Premier League side have announced. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany is a "big fan" of Oscar Bobb and is delighted to see the youngster edging closer to a first-team return after being "robbed of a year" due to injury. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool should prioritise Virgil van Dijk's contract renewal over Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, former Reds striker Emile Heskey has told Sports Mole. 17 March 2025 talksport.com The first major question surrounding Thomas Tuchel as England manager has been answered. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is allegedly attracting interest from another Premier League club. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is reportedly targeting a long-awaited return from a hamstring injury in time for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified another two potential replacements for head coach Ange Postecoglou. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Robbie Fowler is hopeful Trent Alexander-Arnold will remain at Liverpool this summer. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool allegedly have plans to entertain offers for at least one of their regular attacking players during the summer transfer window. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that the performance of Omar Marmoush against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend has sent a "slight warning" to his out-of-form teammate Phil Foden. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool should be pursuing Newcastle's Alexander Isak, regardless of Mohamed Salah's future at Anfield. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The elusive quadruple that Liverpool fans are still pining for remains out of sight for now, but come the sunshine of May, Arne Slot and his crop will surely be proudly parading their Premier League trophy. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Sergio Ramos' cheeky post on social media proved he is well aware of his reputation for being a red card magnet. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Simon Jordan dubbed Martin Keown a 'clown' during a furious clash over Liverpool and Arsenal's trophy hopes live on talkSPORT. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are likely to at least resolve the contract situations of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the coming months, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed.