Chile vs Ecuador Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Preview

Joel Amorim Jun 08, 2015 @ 12:24 am

Next Friday, 12th of June 2015, the tournament's host, Chile, will entertain the always complicated Ecuadorian team at the emblematic Estadio Nacional at Santiago for the opening match of the 2015 Copa America.

Chile had a very positive stint at the Brazilian World Cup last year but they will certainly try now to do even better at the 44th edition of the Copa America that will take place in Chilean territory. Their manager, Jorge Sampaoli, who by the way has been doing a fantastic job so far, is a man deeply passionate about the game and about all its tactical and technical aspects. Chile’s game was already highly mechanized back in Marcelo Bielsa’s days, but with Sampaoli, who is often compared to “El Loco”, things are no different. Whether in a 3-4-3 or in a 4-3-1-2 style, Chile keep showing that they are a very solid team and that they are righteously considered one of the best teams in South America currently.

Over their last five matches, Chile have only won twice and were defeated three times. Defeats against Iran, Brazil and Uruguay and wins over El Salvador and the USA is Chile’s recent record, but they will certainly need to improve their overall performances if they want to take something positive from the upcoming tournament. Last Friday, Sampaoli’s men overcame the modest side of El Salvador on a match where they were always in control but that they only managed to win by 1-0, thanks to a goal from the flamboyant attacking midfielder, El mago, Jorge Valdivia.

As for Ecuador, Gustavo Quinteros' boys are always an unpredictable team. Although their World Cup performances last year were nothing to feel ashamed of, their recent results and respective displays have in a way been far from impressive. Two defeats against Argentina and Mexico, a draw against Panama and two wins over Panama and El Salvador is Ecuador’s recent record. Last Saturday, La Tricolor hammered a fragile Panamanian team by 4-0 thanks to goals from Martinez, Bolanos and Montero, in a match that was the final opportunity for the preparation for the Copa America tournament.

Chile

Stats: W-2 L-3 D-0

Recent Form - WLLWL

Ecuador

Stats: W-2 L-2 D-1

Recent Form - WDLLW

Possible Line-ups

Chile (4-3-1-2) – Bravo - Isla - Medel - Jara - Beausejour - Diaz - Vidal - Aranguiz - Valdivia - Sanchez - Vargas  

Ecuador (4-4-2) - Domínguez - Paredes - Erazo - Achilier - Ayovi - Martinez - Garcia - Montero - Noboa - Valencia - Bolanos

Injury List / Suspended Players

Chile - None

Ecuador - None

Head-to-head matches

Top Players:

Chile - Alexis Sanchez - Arturo Vidal - Jorge Valdivia

Ecuador - Enner Valencia - Jefferson Montero - Christian Noboa

League Positions