Colombia vs Paraguay

The two out-of-form South American teams will lock horns in a high-stake 2022 World Cup qualifying encounter at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez as Colombia take on Paraguay.

Colombia’s hopes of qualifying for their third World Cup finals on the trot have been compromised on the back of a poor run of form that has seen them draw a blank in their last four qualifiers (D3, L1). Though they currently occupy the solitary inter-confederation play-off spot, the Colombians are level on points with sixth-placed Uruguay, meaning they have no margin for error here. However, after winning just one of their last three World Cup qualifying H2Hs (D1, L1), Colombia will be worried about their chances of retaining fifth place beyond this round. On the bright side, ‘Los Cafeteros’ have been decent in their 2022 World Cup qualifying matches at home (W2, D3, L1) and are currently unbeaten in their last four such fixtures in a row (W1, D3).

In the meantime, time is ticking for Paraguay, who cannot catch a break in the ongoing World Cup qualifying cycle, losing their last four such matches by an aggregate score of 7-0. New head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who lost 1-0 to Chile on his debut last time out, will be keen to halt Paraguay’s horrendous five-match winless run in their away World Cup qualifying games (D2, L3). That will require ‘Los Guaraníes’ to find the back of the net for the first time in five World Cup qualifying travels, as they last scored in such fixture back in November 2020 in a 1-1 draw with Argentina. There is a positive note, though, with Paraguay registering two triumphs in their last three World Cup qualifying visits to Colombia (L1).