Ecuador will look to win away in Uruguay for the first time ever on Thursday.
South America's 2018 World Cup qualifiers resume on Thursday with Uruguay welcoming Ecuador to Montevideo in one of the crunch games of the matchday. The hosts head into the fixture in fine form, trailing table-topping Brazil by just a point and a place after the first 10 rounds. It has been an impressive run from a side that have struggled over the last few years, and they'll look to maintain their momentum in this encounter.
However, Ecuador have been almost as impressive in qualifying so far, and find themselves just a place below Uruguay in the table. They've bounced back from a run of three straight competitive defeats, and may well fancy their chances of taking a point or three away from Uruguay on Thursday.
How to watch, stream, and listen
TV: beIN Sports en Español (US and Canada - Spanish)
Online streaming: beIN Sports Connect (US and Canada)
For online listings in other countries, you can check out LiveSoccerTV.
Three big things to know
1. If Ecuador are to win, they'll have to breach the fortress of Uruguay's Estadio Centenario. Óscar Tabárez's side have won all five of their home matches in qualifying so far, having contrastingly won just once on the road. Ecuador have won twice away from home, including an impressive victory away in Argentina last year.
2. In Edinson Cavani, Uruguay boast the top scorer in South American qualifying so far; the Paris Saint-Germain forward has netted seven times so far. However, Ecuador's Felipe Caicedo isn't too far behind, having notched five. Unfortunately for the visitors, they'll have to do without veteran winger Antonio Valencia, with the Manchester United winger having recently undergone surgery on an arm injury.
3. Ecuador have won the last two encounters between these sides, but have never in their history managed to win on Uruguayan turf. There's a first time for everything!
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