Venezuela vs Ecuador Prediction & Betting Tips - World Cup

Prediction published on 15/11/2023, 17:55  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 16/11/2023 at 09:00 in World Cup Prediction

The CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers resume this week, with Venezuela playing host to Ecuador on Friday. The hosts are currently in fourth place in the standings, while the visitors are sixth. After finishing at the bottom of the log in the last edition of qualifying, Venezuela have made a much better start this time. They have taken seven points from their first four matches, which leaves them tied with Uruguay and Brazil in second and third place respectively. The Wine-Red got their campaign started with a 1-0 loss to Colombia. However, since then, they have gone unbeaten with two wins and a draw, including a 3-0 victory over Chile last month. The hosts have also won both their home games in this competition and are unbeaten in their last five on home soil. Despite beating this opponent at this venue the last they met, the hosts are the underdogs here, according to the bookmakers. 

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s task was made that much harder when they were handed a 3-point deduction prior to the commencement of the tournament. The deduction was due to the side falsifying the birth documents of Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle. As a result, despite winning two and drawing one of their four matches, Ecuador are only on four points as it stands. Still, they have made a positive start to the competition and will feel that they will be able to make back the deficit before the final day. The Tri played out a 0-0 draw against Colombia last month which followed a 2-1 win over Bolivia a few days earlier. They are now unbeaten in their last three games. Ecuador’s only loss in the competition was back in week one against world champions Argentina. The visitors won the last match between these sides 1-0 and are the favourites to do likewise in this one.