Costa Rica welcomes their long-time rivals Panama to the National Stadium in San José on Thursday night for a thrilling Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matchup. The two Central American powerhouses have a storied history, but the momentum seems to be firmly in Panama’s favor heading into this highly anticipated clash.
Bold Move: Costa Rica, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, will aim to finally defeat Panama, who have won the last five consecutive meetings between the two sides. “We know Panama has had our number in recent years, but this is a new game, a new opportunity,” said Costa Rican head coach Claudio Vivas during the pre-match press conference. “Our boys are hungry and determined to change the narrative.”
The Ticos, as they are affectionately known, cruised through the Nations League group stage, picking up two wins and two draws to finish top of their group. Their most recent outing was a comfortable 3-0 victory over Guatemala on October 16th, showcasing the attacking prowess that has become a hallmark of Vivas’ side.
On the other hand, Panama arrives in San José on the back of a three-game losing streak, including a 2-1 friendly defeat against Canada and a humbling 5-0 loss to Colombia in the Copa América quarterfinals. “We know Costa Rica will be a tough opponent, but we’re confident in our ability to get the job done,” said Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen. “Our recent results don’t reflect the quality we have in this squad, and we’re determined to make a statement on Thursday.”
History on Panama’s Side: The numbers certainly favor the visitors in this matchup. Panama boasts an impressive 12-8-9 record against Costa Rica dating back to 2005, including a dominant 3-0 victory in the most recent encounter in November 2023. “Costa Rica has struggled to find a way to beat us in recent years, and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon,” Christiansen added confidently.
Key Battles: With both sides boasting formidable attacking talent, we expect a tightly contested match. Costa Rica will look to their experienced duo of Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell to provide the creative spark, while Panama will rely on the goalscoring prowess of Rolando Blackburn and the midfield dominance of Édgar Bárcenas.
In the battle of the goalkeepers, Keylor Navas of Costa Rica will be eager to prove his worth against Luis Mejía of Panama, who has been in impressive form during the team’s recent run of victories.
Betting Odds and Predictions: The bookmakers have installed Costa Rica as the narrow favorites, pricing them at +145 to win the match, with Panama listed as the +190 underdogs. The bookmakers offer a draw at +200 and set the over/under for total goals at 2.5.
Brandt Sutton, a renowned soccer betting expert, has backed Panama to pull off the upset, stating, “The Panamanians have a strong history against Costa Rica, and at +195, I believe they offer excellent value. They’ve won five straight in this head-to-head matchup and will be desperate to bounce back from their recent run of defeats.”
Paramount+ Streaming: The match will exclusively stream on Paramount+ for those eager to catch all the action live. The streaming platform offers a must-have subscription plan that includes SHOWTIME, and new subscribers can advantage from a generous 7-day free trial.
Two of the region’s heavyweights will square off in a thrilling Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal match. Will Costa Rica finally find a way to break Panama’s dominance, or will the visitors continue their winning ways and book their place in the semi-finals? Tune in to Paramount+ on Thursday night to find out.