Colombia vs. Paraguay: WCQ Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

Colombia will face Paraguay at Estadio Metropolitano on Tuesday in a CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying match. The two teams are separated by only one point. Colombia will be looking to get back on track in their campaign.

The Colombians lost 2-1 to Brazil on Thursday, thanks to an own goal in the last minute. They are now in sixth place in the league, just behind La Albirroja, who beat Chile 1-0.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Colombia's qualifying campaign has taken a turn in recent months after an encouraging start. They are pursuing their first finals berth since 2018.

Following an impressive start to the qualification cycle, in which Nestor Lorenzo's squad won their first eight matches, they have already lost their last three.

They now hold the last automatic spot in CONMEBOL qualification, with Bolivia six points behind and five games to go.

In this qualifying cycle, Los Cafeteros have lost five points when they have scored first and four points when they have conceded the first goal.

Their most recent victory came on matchday 10 at Estadio Metropolitano against Chile (4-0), and 13 of their 19 points in qualifying have come from home games.

La Sele, which finished second in the 2024 Copa America, has won all six of its matches against Paraguay, including a 2-1 group stage victory.

While Colombia's campaign has stalled, Paraguay's has picked up steam. The latter has gone undefeated in seven straight qualifiers.

After losing in the group stage of last year's Copa America, they made a coaching change and have since gone undefeated under Gustavo Alfaro.

Thanks to their recent play, Paraguay is now seven points ahead of Bolivia for an automatic spot in next year's World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico. This has reignited their dreams of returning to the finals for the first time since 2010.

By allowing the second-fewest goals in CONMEBOL so far, their defensive structure propelled them back into the race for a World Cup berth.

As a team, Paraguay has struggled to reach the back of the net, scoring the second-fewest goals in South America so far (nine). Their reliance on their defence has kept them over the qualifying line.

The Albirroja have won both of their most recent World Cup qualifying matches played in Colombia, a 0-0 draw in 2021 and a 2-1 triumph in October 2017.

Colombia x Paraguay Team News

Yerson Mosquera and Juan Cabal, both Wolves defenders, are out for Colombia with ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments.

Two Colombians, Johan Carbonero and Marino Hinestroza, are vying for first-team opportunities after coming off the bench in the match against Brazil.

On Thursday, Luis Diaz scored their lone goal. This was his 17th international goal, putting him one goal shy of Carlos Bacca for sixth all-time; the late Freddy Rincon is now in fifth place.

This match will not include Paraguay captain Gustavo Gomez due to an injury, and Hugo Cuenca will not be able to participate due to a muscular problem; Ruben Lezcano will fill in for him.

Orlando Gill, Rodney Redes, Ronaldo de Jesus, and Lezcano are the four Paraguayans who are vying for their first caps for their national team.

With Roberto Fernandez making three saves to keep a clean sheet, Getafe just needed a goal from Omar Alderete to defeat Chile.

Our predictions

Colombia to win @ 1.58 on Sky247.ng

We anticipate that Paraguay's skill and experience will enable them to overcome Colombia's tight defensive unit despite the fact that Colombia will provide a far more formidable offensive threat than Paraguay would expect.

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