Ecuador vs Chile
The Fonte Nova Arena is set for more Copa America highlights this weekend as Chile continue their bid to make history.
To date, in the long and proud history of this competition, only Argentina have won three tournaments in a row (1945-47).
Yet now SBOBET fans may have noticed that record could be matched.
It is early days but we know the holders have shown how much they enjoy upsetting their more illustrious counterparts and, as they bid to create their own landmark, La Roja have already made a damn good start.
Talking Points
One of the main talking points after their first game was the return to action – and a goal – for Alexis Sanchez.
The Manchester United forward not only scored – his first goal since January 25 – and registered an assist in a comfortable 4-0 win over Japan at the Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo but was later trending on twitter.
Of course, one swallow doesn’t make a summer but after securing a man of the match award following his 41st goal on his 124th appearance for his country, the Chileans have a spring in their step.
They are considered to be outsiders to win the tournament with what is an ageing squad assembled by manager Reinaldo Rueda.
But victory Ecuador, when Sanchez will come up against the man who was his club captain until a few weeks ago, Antonio Valencia, and Chile will already be in the knockout stages in double quick time.
Rueda, taking charge of Chile in an official tournament for the first time, has been gradually revamping the squad since he assumed the role in 2018. Among the veterans back from the team’s recent triumphs were Eduardo Vargas, Sánchez and Arturo Vidal.
In that match, Vargas scored twice to become Chile’s all-time leading scorer in the Copa América, and Erick Pulgar also found the net.
Vargas the top scorer in the last two Copa America tournaments (albeit shared with Paolo Guerrero in 2015).
La Roja have now also kept clean sheets in eight of their last 13 Copa America matches.
While they were cruising to a 4-0 success over Japan, the Tricolor were going down by the same scoreline to Uruguay, not helped by having Jose Quintero sent off for an elbow after just 24 minutes.
Coach Hernán Darío Gómez is only too well aware of what is now required, as they seek to bounce back and keep alive their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage, yet deep down must know the overall quality he has to work with is fairly moderate.
The fact Ecuador have shipped seven goals in their last two matches hardly strengthens their case for causing a surprise.
History
Chile lead 29 wins to 12 in their overall history with 13 draws in 54 matches against Ecuador.
Chile have also triumphed in three of their last four meetings.
The most recent encounter between these teams saw Chile win 2-1 at home in 2018 World Cup qualifying with goals from Vargas and Sanchez proving decisive.
The last time they met on Ecuadoran soil, in October 2016 earlier in that campaign, goals from Valencia, Cristian Ramirez and Felipe Caicedo sealed a 3-0 success.
When the nations clashed in the Copa America last, in 2015, Chile were 2-0 winners themselves thanks to a Vidal penalty and Vargas.
They also met in the 2007 tournament when Chile edged a five-goal thriller in Venezuela.
On that occasion, Valencia and Christian Benitez twice fired Ecuador in front before Chile won through goals from Humberto Suazo (two) and Carlos Villanueva.
Ecuador last managed to defeat Chile in the Copa America in 1997.
Betting Tip
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Ecuador vs Chile | Chile Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.16 |
| June 22, 07:00 (GMT+8) |
Chile are priced 1X2 @ 1.83 with Ecuador well adrift in the betting options @ 3.95. The draw is available @ 3.55.
Given one side’s ability to score plenty of goals and the other’s tendency to concede, there should be a little surprise either that over 2.50 goals only offers odds @ 2.08.
Total goal 0-1 @ 2.85 contrasts with total goal 2-3 @ 1.81 and total goal 4-6 @ 3.80.
The best odds on Double Chance betting is Ecuador or Draw @ 1.88 and a repeat of their most recent encounter will see a payout on Correct Score Chile 2-1 Ecuador of @ 7.00.
Asian Handicap betting, however, is the focus of my prediction for this Group C clash. You can get appealing odds on Ecuador + 0.50 @ 2.07 and + 0.25 @ 2.51.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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