2 vs 3
Played
February 6, 2013 8:45 PM GMT
Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques — Guimarães
Referee:‬ M. Strahonja‎
Attendance:‬ 20288‎
 

Portugal-Ecuador Preview: Ronaldo looking to continue birthday celebrations with win over South Americans

The Real Madrid superstar turned 28 on Tuesday, and despite struggling for full fitness, is likely to feature in this friendly clash in Guimaraes

By Jerrad Peters

More On :  Ecuador, Portugal, Portugal vs Ecuador
Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS

PORTUGAL

Beto
J. Pereira, Alves, R. Costa, Coentrao
Meireles, Moutinho, Veloso
Nani, Nelson Oliveira, Ronaldo
ECUADOR

Dominguez
Achilier, Guagua, Bagui, Paredes
Valencia, Castillo, Noboa, Montero
Caicedo, Benitez

Paulo Bento is likely to name a strong line-up for Wednesday’s friendly. The Portugal coach has seen his side fail to win any of their last three matches and will look to inspire a change in momentum ahead of next month’s crucial pair of World Cup qualifiers.

For that to happen he will need a big performance from Cristiano Ronaldo, who hasn't scored in his last four international matches, and a strong contribution from Nani, whose last goal for his country came before the Euro 2012 finals.

Deportivo La Coruna striker Nelson Oliveira is likely to be handed a start between the two wingers after Hugo Almeida picked up a knock on Friday. Bento has also called up Benfica midfielder Andre Gomes after Braga’s Ruben Micael pulled out of the squad due to injury.

Ecuador are likely to be without highly-rated central defender Erazo Frickson after the 24-year-old picked up an adductor problem, which means Oscar Bagui is likely to win his 17th cap. The absence of Michael Arroyo should also open up a spot for lively Morelia winger Jefferson Montero, who will play opposite Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • The only previous meeting between Portugal and Ecuador came on the opening day of the 1972 Brazil Independence Cup, which commemorated the 150th anniversary of Brazil’s Declaration of Independence. The legendary Eusebio scored in a 3-0 victory for the Europeans.
  • Portugal went on to lose to hosts Brazil in the Independence Cup final, with Jairzinho scoring the only goal of the match.
  • Portugal last faced South American opposition in early 2011 when they lost 2-1 to Argentina in Geneva and drew 1-1 with Chile in Leiria. Cristiano Ronaldo netted the goal against the Argentines while Silvestre Varela opened the scoring against Chile.
  • Portugal are third in World Cup qualification Group F after four matches, trailing Russia by five points and behind Israel on goal-difference. Only Helder Postiga has scored more than a single goal for them in the campaign thus far.
  • Ecuador finished bottom of their group at the 2011 Copa America, failing to win a single match. Their lone point came courtesy of a 0-0 draw with eventual runners-up Paraguay.
  • Ecuador are second to Argentina after nine rounds of Conmebol World Cup qualifying and are likely to book a place in their third World Cup finals. They previously participated in Korea-Japan 2002 and Germany 2006.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Portugal 3-1 Ecuador
    13.65 %
  • Portugal 1-2 Ecuador
    10.07 %
  • Portugal 8-0 Ecuador
    9.62 %
Head to Head
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Feb 6, 2013 Portugal 2 - Ecuador 3
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  • Match Report
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Last Five Matches
Portugal
Mar 26, 2013Azerbaijan 0 - Portugal 2WCQE
Mar 22, 2013Israel 3 - Portugal 3WCQE
Feb 6, 2013Portugal 2 - Ecuador 3FR
Nov 14, 2012Gabon 2 - Portugal 2FR
Oct 16, 2012Portugal 1 - Northern Ireland 1WCQE
Ecuador
Mar 26, 2013Ecuador 4 - Paraguay 1WCQS
Mar 21, 2013Ecuador 5 - El Salvador 0FR
Feb 6, 2013Portugal 2 - Ecuador 3FR
Oct 16, 2012Venezuela 1 - Ecuador 1WCQS
Oct 12, 2012Ecuador 3 - Chile 1WCQS
Odds
Returns: Portugal $14.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Draw $37.50 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Returns: Ecuador $70.00 Ladbrokes Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Team News
Available Squads
1EduardoGoalkeeper
2Bruno AlvesDefender
5Fabio CoentraoDefender
21João PereiraDefender
-NetoDefender
8Joao MoutinhoMidfielder
4Miguel VelosoMidfielder
17NaniStriker
16Raúl MeirelesMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
23Hélder PostigaStriker
22BetoGoalkeeper
12Rui PatricioGoalkeeper
13Ricardo CostaDefender
-SerenoDefender
-SilvioDefender
6CustodioMidfielder
10DannyStriker
-Ruben AmorimMidfielder
-ÉderStriker
11Nélson OliveiraStriker
18Silvestre VarelaStriker
1Máximo BangueraGoalkeeper
4Juan Carlos ParedesMidfielder
21G. AchilierDefender
-O. BaguiDefender
3Fricson Rafael ErazoDefender
9Jefferson Antonio MonteroMidfielder
16Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
6C. NoboaMidfielder
14S. CastilloMidfielder
9Felipe CaicedoStriker
11Christian BenítezStriker
22Alexander DomínguezGoalkeeper
-E. MoranteDefender
19Luis Fernando SaritamaMidfielder
7R. IbarraStriker
Results
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Top Scorers
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Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra
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Al Faisaly Amman 		4 1
Andreas Cornelius Andreas Cornelius
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Copenhagen 		4 1
Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell
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HJK Helsinki 		3 1
Fred Fred
Striker
Fluminense 		3 0
Felipe Caicedo Felipe Caicedo
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Lokomotiv Moscow 		3 0