Crunch time in World Cup 2014 qualifying and some massive matches taking place across the globe over the next few days.
Just two rounds of fixtures remain in both Europe and South America and the clash in Quito on Friday is probably the pick of the bunch.
Ecuador are on the brink of reaching the finals in Brazil and victory over Uruguay, with whom they are level on points, will leave them needing just a draw in Chile on Tuesday to advance.
Chile will guarantee their place at next summer’s jamboree with a win at bottom-of-the table Paraguay but Ecuador will not want to rely on having to get anything in Santiago and the pressure is on.
Quito has prove a formidable destination in qualifying, Ecuador have dropped just two points, to Argentina, in seven matches in the cpaital, but Uruguay have started to find their stride of late and I would want greater than evens about a home win.
Having started qualification with five matches without a loss, Uruguay slumped to four defeats in six and manager Oscar Tabarez was a man feeling the strain.
However, three consecutive wins, the latest of which was a 2-0 triumph over the impressive Colombians, has seen La Celeste give themselves every chance of overhauling their upcoming hosts and I think they’ll be good enough for at least a point.
In Luis Alberto Suárez, currently joint-top scorer in the South American preliminaries with ten goals, and Edinson Cavani, Uruguay have a strike partnership up there with the very best and the supporting cast isn’t bad either.
Atletico Madrid’s Christian Rodriguez just gets better and better and Ecuador certainly lack the star quality of the visitors.
Ecuador will once again look to Felipe Caicedo for goals, the striker was on target from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw with Bolivia in La Paz last time out, but Uruguay have held sway in this fixture over the last decade and I expect them to keep their hopes alive.
A final-day home match with Argentina awaits and Uruguay will be more than hopeful of making it ten matches unbeaten against Reinaldo Rueda’s men.
Rueda has not seen his team win for six matches, albeit against some touch opponents, and just four goals have been scored in that period.
2pts Lay Ecuador (vs. Uruguay) @ 2.20 (Betfair)