On October 9, Paraguay U20 will compete against Norway U20 in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Here’s a look at this upcoming match.
Paraguay U20
Paraguay started their World Cup journey with a tough 3-2 win over Panama. Their second match ended in a 0-0 draw against South Korea. In a critical final group match, Paraguay lost 1-2 to Ukraine, but still managed to finish second in their group, qualifying ahead of South Korea on tiebreakers.
Finishing second turned out to be fortunate, as the group leader faced Spain, while Paraguay now faces Norway. Their chances of reaching the quarterfinals look good, especially with strong support expected from local fans.
Norway U20
Norway began their tournament with a 1-0 victory over Nigeria, scoring early from a penalty. Despite having less possession, Nigeria couldn’t score. In their second game, Norway held Colombia to a 0-0 draw, struggling to create any real chances.
Norway were slight favorites in their final group match against Saudi Arabia but ended with a 1-1 draw after missing a penalty in the 73rd minute, which cost them a chance to win.
Match facts
Norway allowed just one goal in the group stage.
Both teams have not won in their last two matches.
Current odds for the match are: Home win – 2.5, Draw – 3.25, Away win – 2.8.
Prediction
Bookmakers see both teams as equally likely to win, offering similar odds for progression. I anticipate a close match with limited scoring opportunities. A single goal could be the game-changer, making a bet on under 2.5 goals a wise choice.