The stage is set for a high-octane clash in the Copa America quarter-finals as the defending champions Argentina lock horns with a determined Ecuadorian side on Friday, 05 July, at 01:00 am Central African Time. Argentina, fresh off a dominant group stage performance, will be brimming with confidence, but underestimating Ecuador’s hunger for an upset could prove costly.

Argentina: Heavy Favourites

Argentina are the clear favourites, boasting a dominant historical record against Ecuador. They’ve never lost to them at the Copa America and haven’t been defeated by Ecuador since 2015.
Lionel Messi’s return to form is a major boost. Though scoreless in the group stage, he has a prolific record against Ecuador with 7 goals.
Argentina cruised through the group stage and has a strong recent record in knockout rounds, winning their last three Copa America quarterfinals by a combined 9-1 margin.

Ecuador: Can They Cause an Upset?

Despite being underdogs, Ecuador shouldn’t be completely discounted. They showed defensive resilience in the group stage, holding Mexico scoreless and only conceding one goal.
Jeremy Sarmiento has been a spark for their attack, scoring their only goal in the tournament so far.
A tight, defensive approach from Ecuador could frustrate Argentina, who haven’t always been at their free-flowing best.

Argentina vs Ecuador Prediction:

Most experts favour Argentina to win, with predictions ranging from a narrow 1-0 victory to a more comfortable 2-0 or 3-0 win. Argentina’s individual quality and historical dominance over Ecuador are tough to ignore. However, Ecuador’s defensive organization could make it a tense encounter. Historically, Argentina holds the upper hand. They have never lost to Ecuador in the Copa America, boasting an impressive record of 11 wins and 5 draws.