Bitesize Prediction: Universidad Catolica vs Emelec – 26/06/25

Competition: Liga Pro

Market: Universidad Catolica win

Odds: 2/3 @ BetUS

Hoping to find a route into the top-six in midweek, Universidad Catolica will welcome Emelec to Quito in the early hours of Thursday.

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways last week as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp away at El Nacional, Universidad Catolica will certainly be seeking a repeat performance here. Opening the 2025 campaign once again tipped as a leading top-six contender, Diego Martinez’s men have won three of their previous four appearances across all competitions. Likewise, embarking on what has been a sensational Copa Sudamericana adventure this year, the Light Blues stormed their way to a knockout stage ticket and made quite the statement of intent. Signing off their group stage charge with an eye-catching 1-0 victory against Brazilian outfit Vitoria, Thursday’s hosts will also be excited by their continued dominance on home soil. Signing off May with a 3-1 win against LDU Quito, Universidad Catolica are unbeaten in all of their 11 home fixtures across all formats so far this calendar year.

As for the visitors, while Emelec might have got June underway with an essential 1-0 victory at home against Orense, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for Jorge Celico’s camp. Suffering late frustration last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate against Delfin, El Bombillo have recorded just a single win from their previous five Liga Pro appearances and they are scrapping it out at the foot of the top-flight standings. Getting Thursday’s showdown underway sat in the relegation zone, Emelec will certainly be bracing themselves for another monumental challenge here. Likewise, suffering consecutive 2-0 defeats against El Nacional and Barcelona SC in their last two away fixtures, Celico’s side should also be concerned by a nightmare record against Thursday’s hosts. Losing all of their last three trips to Quito by an aggregate score of 7-2, we are backing a similar outcome here.

Bet: Universidad Catolica 2/3 to beat Emelec in Thursday’s Liga Pro matchup @ BetUS