**Ecuador rolls out the welcome mat at home, and they're unbeaten in this fixture — time to keep that streak alive.** 🇪🇨

Ecuador's mixed recent form (1W, 2D, 2L) includes a shutout versus Japan, but they got demolished 3-0 by South Korea. Costa Rica meanwhile arrives hungry after back-to-back wins over Haiti and Nicaragua, though they've also dropped three in their last five. The hosts have **zero draws** against Costa Rica across their last four meetings — either Ecuador wins or the script flips dramatically.

Key storylines:

- **Ecuador's home fortress** — Atahualpa is a fortress, and they've never lost to Costa Rica there. Expect early intensity from the hosts.
- **Costa Rica's attacking form** — With **K. Vargas** and **O. Galo** sidelined by injury, the visitors lean on **C. Mora** and **O. Sinclair** to find the net. Tough assignment.
- **Midfield battle** — **M. Caicedo** anchors Ecuador's engine room; if he controls tempo, the Tri color should dictate play.

Expected lineups:

- **Ecuador**: H. Galíndez, P. Hincapié, W. Pacho, J. Ordóñez, G. Plata, P. Vite, M. Caicedo, A. Franco, J. Yeboah, E. Valencia
- **Costa Rica**: K. Navas, D. Araya, F. Calvo, J. Mitchell, Y. Sosa, J. Alcócer, A. Soto, C. Borges, S. Acuña, C. Mora, O. Sinclair

Prediction:

**Ecuador 2–0 Costa Rica.** Home advantage, injury woes for the visitors, and that perfect head-to-head record all tilt toward an Ecuador win. 🎯