Kick-off: 0100, 14/06/2021
Stadium: Arena Pantanal
TV: BBC digital
Colombia will head into their Copa America North Zone opener with Ecuador gunning for revenge.
Los Cafeteros were on the receiving end of a 6-1 hammering by the same opponents in a World Cup qualifier last November.
But La Tri will be full of confidence that they can confirm that superiority and another win for the underdogs at 18/5 is our first Colombia vs Ecuador prediction.
A Look At Colombia’s Betting Odds
Colombia have produced some solid performances at recent Copa Americas since winning the tournament in 2001.
They have secured a third and fourth-place finish, as well as two quarter-final appearances and an early group-stage departure in their last five outings.
Reinaldo Rueda’s side won all three group games at the 2019 edition without conceding a goal, including beating Argentina 2-0, but exited on penalties to Chile in the last eight.
Colombia have had a mixed start to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, highlighted by that battering by Ecuador, and will be missing key players for this tournament.
Everton playmaker James Rodriguez was left out of their squad due to fitness concerns, while talismanic striker Radamel Falcao is another injury victim.
However, they can still call on the likes of Atalanta duo Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel, plus Juan Cuadrado and Alfredo Morelos.
That is enough firepower to find the net and we like both teams to score at 21/20 from the Colombia vs Ecuador odds.
Last week’s World Cup matches went well, with Colombia beating Peru 3-0 and then drawing 2-2 against Argentina.
A Look At Ecuador’s Betting Odds
Ecuador will need to end a poor run of results at Copa America if they are to emerge from a group also including hosts Brazil, Venezuela and 2019 runners-up Peru.
Gustavo Alfaro’s side have crashed out in the group stages at seven of the last eight tournaments.
But last winter’s form in World Cup qualifying will give them hope that they can emulate the 2016 edition, when they drew with Brazil and Peru, before losing to the United States in the quarter-finals.
Ecuador started their road to Qatar 2022 with a defeat to Argentina, but overcame that disappointment by winning their next three, scoring 13 goals in the process.
They edged out Bolivia 3-2 late on and held 4-0 leads during big wins over Uruguay and Colombia.
Admittedly, last week’s 2-0 loss to Brazil and 2-1 defeat by Peru stalled their bandwagon, but neither display was disastrous.
With veteran Antonio Valencia having recently retired, Ecuador still have experience in Alexander Dominguez, Christian Noboa and Enner Valencia, while Michael Estrada has enjoyed a good start to his international career.
Alfaro’s side are involved in plenty of goals so let’s finish off our Colombia vs Ecuador betting tips with over 2.5 in the match at 11/10.
Head-to-head: Ecuador 6-1 Colombia, Ecuador 0-1 Colombia, Ecuador 0-2 Colombia, Colombia 3-1 Ecuador, Colombia 1-0 Ecuador.
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