Costa Rica and Panama meet in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final on Thursday evening.
Despite topping Group A in the previous round, Costa Rica enter this stage as the unseeded team with Panama one of the four pre-seeded nations.
Match preview
© Imago
Just under 12 months ago, Costa Rica were participating in this stage of the competition only to succumb to a 6-1 aggregate defeat to their upcoming opponents.
Since then, though, they have put a run together that has featured just two defeats in 13, with those losses against Argentina and Colombia respectively.
A goalless draw with Brazil at the Copa America is the standout result, while the Tricolor have since been able to put together a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Four of those games have been with Claudio Vivas as caretaker head coach, with his team accumulating eight points from their four games in the groups.
Last time out, Costa Rica posted a 3-0 victory over Guatemala to set up an opportunity to try to get revenge on the nation that toppled them in the last eight in 2023.
Panama have faced far tougher opposition than Costa Rica over the past 12 months, a main factor in seven defeats being suffered in 11 games.
Nevertheless, some scalps have been taken during that period with victories over United States and Bolivia coming in the Copa America.
A total of nine goals have been shipped in their last three outings, however, including in a 2-0 reverse to the USA last month.
That was followed by a competitive 2-1 loss to Canada, also in a friendly, and Thomas Christiansen is bidding to prevent the Canal Men from extending their worst run of form in two years.
Team News
With each of the Costa Rica players that started the 3-0 win over Guatemala featuring in this squad, Vivas could plausibly select the same side if he wishes to stick with a 4-4-2 formation.
Joel Campbell is the obvious option to return to the side, however, potentially as a replacement for Alonso Martinez who is without a goal in 17 international appearances.
Kenneth Vargas scored his first Costa Rica goal last time out and will hope to retain his spot on the right flank.
Christiansen will have to make at least one alteration to his Panama XI with Freddy Gondola unavailable for this contest.
Ismael Diaz is in line to be drafted into the team as a straight replacement with the rest of the team in line to stay the same.
Costa Rica possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Quiros, Mitchell, J. Vargas, Calvo; K. Vargas, Aguilera, Bran, Madrigal; Martinez, Ugalde
Panama possible starting lineup:
Mosquera; Harvey, Escobar, Ramos; Anderson, Godoy, Ayarza, Barcenas; Lenis, Fajardo, Diaz
We say: Costa Rica 2-1 Panama
This feels like a real 50-50 clash with Costa Rica much improved since their last showdown with Panama. Having build up a head of steam during qualifying, we are backing the home side to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
