- Recent form: Colombia are in good form, with four wins and one draw from their last five matches
- Opposition form: Ghana are in poor form, with one win, two draws and two defeats from their last five
Tight game in Kansas City
Colombia are the slight favorites for this clash at Kansas City Stadium in the USA, with the Colombian team rated at 2.15 to Ghana's 3.65 and the draw at 3.2. Those odds suggest this will be close and it probably will be, but we think the more attractive odds on Colombia and a low-scoring game make the best value.
The market leans towards a low-scoring match anyway with Under 2.5 goals at 1.5 and Both Teams To Score – No at 1.62, but we believe the Colombian side can make enough of a move on Saturday to nick the game.
Nestor Lorenzo has his Colombia side playing on the front foot and can be very dangerous at their best. The 4-2-3-1 system they favour is quite fluid and allows the team to morph into a more incisive shape when in possession. They are not as strong defensively, however, and so will need to stay ahead in the game and have enough in the tank to see it out.
Ghana good in transition
Tactical setup:
Ghana will be more of a pragmatic team with Carlos Queiroz setting them up to be a solid team that can adapt to any game. They will get their structure compact and then will look to pounce on second balls and any other chances that arise from transition.
Recent form:
Colombia's recent FIFA World Cup Group K games will illustrate the way the matchup could play out.
- A 3-1 win at Uzbekistan was followed by a 1-0 win over DR Congo before a 0-0 draw at Portugal.
- Ghana's Group L games – a 1-0 win over Panama, a 0-0 draw at England and a 2-1 defeat at Croatia – suggest this could be a similar kind of clash.
Form and outlook:
Colombia are the hotter side with six wins, two draws and just two defeats in their last 10 in all competitions. Ghana, in contrast, have just two wins, two draws and six defeats in the same period, suggesting they are on a weaker wicket.
There is a clear difference in styles that suggests we could see a chess game of sorts with Colombia attempting to squeeze Ghana and the Black Stars waiting for a break to counter-attack. Colombia should be able to edge this matchup and we're with them to do so in a tight game.
