As the 2022 World Cup looms on the horizon, both Saudi Arabia and Ecuador will look to gain some momentum before Qatar when they face off at Estadio Nueva Condomina on Friday, with kickoff at 9 pm.
Saudi Arabia qualified for the upcoming World Cup but lost consecutive matches heading into Friday’s fixture against Uruguay.
The Green Falcons were defeated by Colombia (1-0) and Venezuela (1-0), a worrying factor for Herve Renard because his men have yet to score a single goal across those two games.
The Green Falcons dominated their most recent encounter with Venezuela with 59% of the possession, but with only two shots on target, it is an issue that Renard will want to address.
The visitors, Ecuador, have two matches before they head to Qatar for the upcoming tournament. Despite having less preparation time than Saudi Arabia, Gustavo Alfaro’s men have plenty of momentum behind them right now.
The Tri are undefeated in their previous four matches in all competitions, and impressively they have only conceded a single goal.
Considering that they are playing against a team that has been struggling for goals as of late, Ecuador could extend their strong defensive run on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia vs Ecuador Head to Head
Both sides are yet to face each other, and this marks their first encounter. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Ecuador 1-0 Cape Verde
- Mexico 0-0 Ecuador
- Ecuador 1-0 Nigeria
- Ecuador 1-1 Argentina
Away
- Saudi Arabia 0-1 Venezuela
- Colombia 1-0 Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia 1-0 Australia
- China 1-1 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Team News
Fahad Al-Muwallad has been called up to Saudi Arabia’s squad for the first time since October. The Greens are likely to rely upon Firas al-Buraikan upfront as their lone striker with two players out wide. The team is looking to improve upon its recent attacking efforts and qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Ecuador Team News
Enner Valencia is one of the most experienced members of Ecuador’s squad, and he could be relied upon to play a leading role up front. Another player who will likely get significant playing time is Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, who has had a breakthrough year.
Prediction and Odds
This is a game between two teams that would benefit from improving their attacking capabilities before the World Cup begins.
- Goals Under 2.5
- Draw
- Double Chance
