Mexico will continue their quest for a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they welcome Panama to Mexico City for the eleventh round of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers campaign.
Venue: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
Key Statistics
Mexico have won just one of their last six games in all internationals (D2, L3).
They have kept just one clean sheet in their last six games.
The visitors are unbeaten at home in the WCQ (W2, D2).
Panama have kept one clean sheet in their last nine games.
They have won just one of their last five away games (D1, L3).
Head to head
Mexico have won eight of the last 15 head-to-head meetings between both sides. Panama have two wins in those meetings (D5).
Latest performances in all competitions
Mexico: D-W-D-L-L-L
Panama: W-L-D-W-W
Mexico
Mexico will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Panama at the Estadio Azteca this Thursday.
The hosts come into this tie on the back of a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in their last WCQ game. The result means they are currently sitting third in the group, level on points with the USA in second and four points behind Canada, who are top of the CONMEBOL qualifiers table.
With four games left to play, Gerardo Martino’s side needs at least eight points from their remaining four games to secure a place in the intercontinental playoffs spot.
However, their form going into this tie does not inspire so much confidence. El Tri have won just one of their last six games. They have not lost a home game in the World Cup this qualifiers campaign though and should be able to take home maximum points from this game.
Possible Mexico starting line-up
Guillermo Ochoa; Luis Alfonso Rodríguez, Héctor Moreno, Gerardo Arteaga, Nestor Araujo; Orbelin Pineda, Hector Herrera, Diego Lainez; Jesus Corona, Hirving Lozano, Alexis Vega.
Injured: Jorge Sánchez
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Panama
Panama took a step closer to qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 3-2 home win over Jamaica on Saturday.
In an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Panama came out on top, securing the win via goals from Javain Brown (own goal), Eric Davis and Ariano Azmahar despite falling behind in the fifth minute through Michail Antonio goal.
The win ensured that they stayed in the fourth position after ten rounds of games, one point behind USA and Mexico in second and third, respectively.
They still have the chance to finish even in first given that they are five points behind first-placed Canada. But they must win their remaining four games and hope that Canada drops at least six points.
But their focus will be to finish within the top three or at worst top four. Nine points from their remaining three games will guarantee them a place in the playoffs. If they win this game against Mexico, nine points should also be enough to see them finish in the automatic places.
With three wins from their last five qualifier games (L2), they will fancy their chances of causing an upset against Mexico.
Possible Panama starting line-up
Luis Mejía; Eric Davis, Azmahar Ariano, Fidel Escobar, Michael Amir Murillo; Armando Cooper, Anibal Godoy; Alberto Quintero, Édgar Bárcenas, César Yanis; Rolando Blackburn.
Injured: Andrés Andrade, Harold Cummings
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Mexico 2-1 Panama
