Colombia VS Panama Match Prediction
- 2019-06-03
- 22:00:00
Colombia will win this match.
Colombia have won nine of their 13 international matches against Panama, including their most recent meeting back in May 2007 when, after two defeats at the 2005 Gold Cup, Colombia gained a measure of revenge with a 4-0 win. Roman Torres was in defence for Panama but the teams are otherwise vastly different now, 12 years on.
Panama’s 1-1 draw with Brazil ended a miserable run of form which started almost as soon as they qualified for last year’s World Cup.
That tournament marked the peak of the majority of their iconic players’ careers – and also signaled its end – and in the wake of so many post-tournament retirements they have struggled.
Despite the draw with Brazil, they are expected to struggle in this game too – Colombia lost their most recent friendly but are otherwise in good form.
They are at near full-strength with the focus on preparations for the Copa America too, with the exception of defender Davinson Sanchez’s Champions League final commitments.
Panama have been suspect at set pieces for some time and the likes of Yerry Mina are likely to cause all sorts of problems in the opposition area from corners.
Mina already has six international goals and the towering centre-back will be a menace again.
For Panama, Adolfo Machado scored against Brazil but he will need to be in excellent defensive form this time around.
Realistically, however, Panama’s winless streak looks set to continue – they lack goals and concede far too many, particularly against the bigger nations.
The draw with Brazil was a notable result, but it could well prove to be a one-off as they struggle to recapture the form that earned them a World Cup place.
Colombia are big odds-on favourites to beat Panama and can be backed at 1/6 with Ladbrokes, Bet365 and Betway to win.
With Panama too often lacking goals, those odds improve only as far as 8/13 with Ladbrokes for Colombia to win to nil.
You can also back against both teams to score at 4/9 with Ladbrokes.
Over 2.5 goals returns a best price of 4/6 with 888sport, meanwhile – the USA managed three when they beat Panama in one of their most recent friendlies.
Colombia should prove too strong for Panama as they look to step up their Copa America preparations with a morale-boosting win.
Davinson Sanchez is in Colombia’s Copa America squad, but the Tottenham defender will not feature in this friendly just two days after the Champions League final. Juan Fernando Quintero missed out injured in midfield, while Carlos Bacca is the stand-out exclusion in the 23-man Colombia squad for the summer. Genk’s Jhon Lucumi and Deportes Tolima keeper Alvaro Montero could both make their international debuts.
Radamel Falcao – The Colombia captain scored 15 goals as Monaco escaped Ligue 1 relegation and will want to put a frustrating season behind him by starring for the national team.
James Rodriguez – Remains an integral part of this Colombia line-up in attacking midfield, having scored 22 goals in 70 previous appearances.
Yerry Mina – With Panama suspect at set pieces, the big Colombia defender could be a threat in the opposition box.
Colombia lost their most recent friendly, 2-1 away to South Korea, despite Luis Diaz’s goal. Radamel Falcao’s penalty had earned a 1-0 win in Japan in the previous game, however, while Carlos Bacca scored in both a 4-2 defeat of the USA and 3-1 win against Costa Rica – Juan Hernandez’s double sealing victory in the latter.
Defender Erick Davis and midfielder Alberto Quintero were both missing from the squad which faced the Basque Country in an unofficial friendly. There was still plenty of experience in the squad, however, including Roman Torres, captain Armando Cooper, Anibal Godoy and their goalscorer against Brazil, Adolfo Machado.
Gabriel Torres – The striker now leads the attack after the post-World Cup retirements of Luis Tejeda and Blas Perez; he has 14 goals in 76 appearances.
Armando Cooper – One of the vastly experienced players to continue after the World Cup, the Israel-based midfielder has scored seven times in 102 appearances.
Adolfo Machado – The experienced defender scored in the draw with Brazil, but it is in his own penalty area where he will be key against Colombia.
Panama’s winless streak went on during the last international break, but they did earn an eye-catching draw with Brazil – Adolfo Machado scoring their goal in a 1-1 draw. It ended a run of three straight defeats, after Panama lost 1-0 to Honduras, 2-1 to Ecuador and 3-0 to the USA.