Argentina v Ecuador betting tips: Messi aims to steer Albiceleste into last four
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Argentina v Ecuador betting tips and preview
Argentina, like Brazil, finished the group stage unbeaten with three wins and a draw but they seem to have a much easier quarter-final in the shape of Ecuador who failed to win a game.
Draws against Venezuela and Peru will hardly have Argentina quaking in their boots and although they also held Brazil, the tournament favourites had put out a much-changed side having already won the group.
The 14-time winners are 4/9 to reach the semi-finals inside 90 minutes but let’s look at some of the other markets in our Argentina v Ecuador betting tips.
Match Odds
Aside from the 4-1 victory over Bolivia in their final group game, Argentina’s matches have been low-scoring affairs with both of their wins against Uruguay and Paraguay coming by 1-0 scorelines which followed a 1-1 draw with Chile.
Argentina are 19/10 and 10/11 to win by under 2.5 and 3.5 goals respectively or they are 21/5 for another 1-0 victory.
That said, in the last three meetings since 2017, La Albiceleste won 3-1, 6-1 and 1-0 against Ecuador so it could be an entertaining clash especially as we are at the knockout stage.
A win for the favourites and over 3.5 goals is available at 17/5 and we also go 21/10 on Argentina to win the first half which has been the case in all four matches at Copa America.
Argentina HT/FT is 6/5, to win both halves is available at 13/5 and a 1-0 lead at half-time, which was the case in three of their four group games, is 11/5.
They were also leading inside the first 15 minutes in three of those matches and that option can be backed at 4/1.
Talking Tactics
Coach Lionel Scaloni picked a strong team for the win against Bolivia during which Lionel Messi scored with a penalty and a delightful lob to give Argentina a 3-0 half-time lead.
Sergio Aguero was the focal point in attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Angel Correa and Papu Gomez either side of Messi.
Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro prefers his team in a 4-4-2 system in which Enner Valencia is accompanied by either Ayrton Preciado or Leonardo Campana.
Goalscorer Odds
Messi is the top scorer at the tournament with three goals and is 13/5 favourite to break the deadlock, 1/1 just to score or 9/2 to bag at least a double as he did against Bolivia.
Gomez has scored in his last two games – both inside the first 10 minutes – and he is 11/2 to get the game’s opening goal or 11/5 to be on target.
For Ecuador, Valencia is the favourite to make the breakthrough at 9/1 or 7/2 to find the net but Preciado is his nation’s top scorer with two and is 12/1 and 5/1 in the equivalent markets.
Match Info
Where: Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiania
When: 22:00, Wednesday 3rd July
How to watch: BBC Digital
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
