Colombia vs Costa Rica Prediction: Expert Analysis and Match Preview
Colombia defeated Paraguay 2-1, extending their winning streak to nine games across all competitions. Notably, Colombia has only lost once in their last 25 matches, securing 19 victories during this period. Their consistent performance makes them a formidable team in the current season.
Costa Rica’s Recent Performances
Costa Rica held match favorites Brazil to a goalless draw of their first Copa America fit and are now on a 4-game unbeaten streak. Despite this, their attack has struggled, failing to score in two of their last four matches. This defensive strength will be crucial as they face a high-scoring Colombian side.
Colombia Costa Rica: Head-to-Head Dominance
Colombia has a perfect winning record against Costa Rica in their previous meetings, with one exception. They have scored at least two goals in five of their last six matches, demonstrating their offensive prowess. Costa Rica, on the other hand, has struggled to find the back of the net consistently.
Colombia’s Strategy and Key Players
Team News and Predicted Lineup
Jefferson Lerma was in excellent form in the last match until he was injured in the 68th minute. However, the injury doesn’t appear severe, and Lorenzo Nestor is likely to include him in the starting XI again on Friday. Expect Colombia to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, which has been successful in their recent games.
Colombia Predicted Lineup:
Colombia (4-2-3-1): Vargas, Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica, Rios, Lerma, Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz – Borre
Costa Rica’s Tactical Approach
Team News and Predicted Lineup
Costa Rica employed a 3-4-1-2 formation in their last match against Brazil, which worked well defensively. Thanks to Patrick Sequeira’s outstanding performance in goal, they managed to keep Brazil at bay. Alfaro will likely choose a similar setup with three defenders and four midfielders.
Costa Rica Predicted Lineup:
Costa Rica (3-4-1-2): Sequeira, Mitchell, Pablo Vargas, Calvo, Quiros, Brenes, Galo, Lassiter, Aguilera Zamora, Ugalde, Alvaro Zamora
Can Colombia Secure Qualification Before Brazil?
Considering their strong record against Costa Rica and their impressive unbeaten streak, Colombia is likely to secure a victory on Friday. They have scored a total of six goals in their last three encounters with Costa Rica while conceding three. Additionally, they have scored at least two goals in four of their last five matches, particularly strong when playing at home.
Colombia Costa Rica: Betting Tips and Final Prediction
One trend to watch for is Colombia’s ability to score at least one goal in the first half of their recent matches. They have demonstrated this trend in the last four matches in a row. Therefore, making a bet on Colombia to attain over 0.5 goals in the first 1/2 seems logical.
Another betting option is to consider over 2.5 goals and both teams to score, as this trend has been observed in their recent encounters. Additionally, Costa Rica has experienced similar goal traits in their remaining two away defeats. Therefore, our prediction for this match is a 2-1 victory for Colombia.
In conclusion, Colombia’s superior form and attacking strength make them the favorites in this clash against Costa Rica. Fans can expect an exciting and competitive match, with Colombia likely securing a spot in the knockout stage with a win.