This week sees the start of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaign and Argentina will be playing host to Ecuador at the Estadio Alberto José Armando in Buenos Aires as the home side look to kick things off with a win.
The last competitive match that Argentina played was a 3rd place play-off against Chile in the Copa America in Brazil back in July 2019 where the Argentinians ran out 2-1 winners following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Brazil in the semi-finals.
#SelecciónMayor El grueso del grupo que comanda @lioscaloni realiza labores regenerativas y de baja intensidad en #Ezeiza ✅¡Arrancamos con la preparación! 😀 pic.twitter.com/bL8Rg8fyL4— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) October 5, 2020
#SelecciónMayor El grueso del grupo que comanda @lioscaloni realiza labores regenerativas y de baja intensidad en #Ezeiza ✅¡Arrancamos con la preparación! 😀 pic.twitter.com/bL8Rg8fyL4
Earlier in the tournament, Argentina had scraped through Group B with four points from their three group matches and finished runners-up to group winners, Colombia, but Argentina were far from convincing.
Nevertheless, Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals where they recorded a 2-0 win against Venezuela but further participation was ended by Brazil, and since that tournament, Argentina have played international friendlies and are unbeaten in their last six matches overall.
This sequence of results include wins over Mexico 4-0, a 6-1 win away at Thursday’s opponents, Ecuador, and a 1-0 win against Brazil, so the hosts will be confident that they can chalk up an early three points here.
Ecuador’s involvement in the Copa America tournament in Brazil last year ended in abject disappointment as they finished bottom of Group C with even invitees to the tournament, Japan, finishing above them.
Defeats to Uruguay and Chile was the worst start possible for Ecuador who went onto being held by Japan in a 1-1 draw in the final group match, and five international friendlies have followed since, with Ecuador winning three of these.
Victories over Peru, Bolivia and Trinidad and Tobago have been encouraging but the heavy 6-1 defeat to Argentina along with a 1-0 loss to Colombia perhaps show that the visitors could struggle in these World Cup qualifiers.
Indeed, Ecuador have managed to win just three of their last 12 matches overall in all competitions while away from home their results have been even worse; just three wins out of their last 20 matches on their travels in all competitions doesn’t bode well for this upcoming clash against Argentina.
This particularly looks the case as Argentina have won three of the previous four meetings against Ecuador and they should get over the line again here too.