Preview
- Date: Thursday, October 10
- Kick-off Time: 9:00 pm GMT
- Venue: Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador and Paraguay will be locking horns in the ninth round of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Just a couple of points separates the two nations on the points table. The hosts occupy the fourth spot with 11 points to their name while Paraguay is three places below at seventh owing to nine points from eight games. A win for either of the two sides is more or less guaranteed as Ecuador and Paraguay have not drawn any of their last three matches with each other.
The recent form of Ecuador has been filled with inconsistencies. The country has managed just a couple of victories to go with a draw and three defeats in the last six matches. Despite that, Ecuador will feel comfortable regarding its position in the qualifying table. The top six ranked nations in the table will earn direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Ecuador has been successful in securing that place as of now. Tougher tests await Sebastian Beccacece’s men, starting with a home outing against Paraguay.
Paraguay’s run of results lately has been anything but positive for the federation and the supporters. In the last six games, Paraguay has collected four defeats along with a draw and a victory. Nonetheless, the 57ᵗʰ ranked national team in the world is still in a decent enough position to qualify for the World Cup with 10 matchdays still to go. The away form has been a concern for the coaching staff with Paraguay winless in the last 10 away games. A victory over Ecuador could potentially lift Paraguay above Thursday’s hosts in the table.
Ecuador National Football Team News
There are no reported injuries or fitness issues from the Ecuador camp ahead of Thursday’s encounter. Sebastian Beccacece is expected to continue with his 3-4-3 formation which can turn into a 5-4-1 or a 3-4-2-1 according to the in-game scenarios.
Paraguay National Football Team News
The Paraguayans will start the game in a classic 4-2-3-1 formation. This shape allows Gustavo Alfaro to rotate between a low-block or even a high-possession-oriented style. Like Ecuador, Paraguay, too, doesn’t have anyone on the injured list from the squad for the October round of fixtures.
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Ecuador vs Paraguay Predicted Lineups
Ecuador National Football Team Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Galindez
Defenders: Torres, Pacho, Hincapie
Midfielders: Preciado, Franco, Caicedo, Estupinan
Forwards: Mercado, Valencia, Paez
Paraguay National Football Team Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Fernandez
Defenders: Caceres, Balbuena, Alderete, Alonso
Midfielders: Villasanti, Bobadilla, Enciso
Forwards: Gomez, Pitta, Almiron
Ecuador vs Paraguay H2H Record
The last five meetings between Ecuador and Paraguay have ended in two victories for both nations along with a 2-2 draw in 2017. The head-to-head record endorses another close matchup between the two national teams.
| Result | Year and Competition |
| Paraguay 3-1 Ecuador | 2022, World Cup Qualifiers |
| Ecuador 2-0 Paraguay | 2021, World Cup Qualifiers |
| Paraguay 2-1 Ecuador | 2017, World Cup Qualifiers |
| Ecuador 2-2 Paraguay | 2016, World Cup Qualifiers |
| Ecuador 4-1 Paraguay | 2013, World Cup Qualifiers |
Key Players to Watch in Ecuador vs Paraguay
Kendry Paez (Ecuador)
Kendry Paez will be the individual to look out for as far as the Ecuadorian attack is concerned. The 17-year-old is one of the most talked about prospects in South American football. His talents have not been left unnoticed by the European giants with Chelsea set to welcome Paez in the summer of 2025. Until then, the winger will continue his development at Independiente del Valle. He is capable of being deployed in multiple positions in attack with the attacking midfielder role best suited for him. His fast dribbling skills will cause trouble to the backline of Paraguay.
Moises Caicedo (Ecuador)
At just 22 years old, Moises Caicedo is already a regular and key part of the Ecuador National Team camp with 48 appearances to his name. The Chelsea man has also been to able find the back of the net three times since his debut in 2020. Moises Caicedo is usually assigned the role of operating in a pivot due to his wonderful passing range and ability to play through the opposition press. Caicedo also possesses an impeccable timing when it comes to tackling. His composure will be an integral component of Ecuador’s chances of victory.
Ecuador vs Paraguay Prediction
The hosts are in a slightly better run of form than Paraguay. However, it is difficult to predict a result between two sides which cannot be differentiated very much in terms of individual quality. The little details will be the most likely influencer of the result.
Predicted Score: Ecuador 2-1 Paraguay
Where to watch Ecuador vs Paraguay Live?
| Country | Where to watch |
| USA | Fanatiz USA |
| UK | Premier Sports 1 |
| India | FanCode |
| Paraguay | SNT Paraguay, Trece |
| Ecuador | FIFA+ |
FAQs
Q. When is Ecuador vs Paraguay?
The Ecuador vs Paraguay match will be played on 10ᵗʰ October at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador.
Q. Where to watch Ecuador vs Paraguay live for free?
The Ecuador vs Paraguay match can be watched on SBS Sport.
Q. What is the predicted score in Ecuador vs Paraguay?
Our predicted score for the upcoming Ecuador vs Paraguay fixture is 2-1 to Ecuador.
Q. What is the head-to-head record for Ecuador vs Paraguay?
The last five meetings between Ecuador and Paraguay have ended in two victories for Ecuador, two for Paraguay and a draw with an aggregate score of 10-8.