The ultimate home advantage?published at 02:47 BST
Mexico v Ecuador (03:00 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
As host nation, Mexico have lost just one out of 12 matches at the World Cup.
They have won eight, drawn three and lost just one, a 4-1 defeat to Italy in the 1970 quarter-final.
Their 67% win ratio in Mexico is 43% higher than their win ratio when playing outside of Mexico, when they have won just 12 of 51 games, or 24%.
Mexico have the worst win percentage in World Cup knockout stage games of any nation to feature in more than five fixtures, winning only one of 10, but will the friendly confines of the Azteca help them double that tally tonight?
Mexico usually enjoy the bonus benefit of being acclimatised to Mexico City being 2,200m above sea level, but their edge has gone tonight, Ecuador regularly play home games in Quito, another 500m higher, where the air is even thinner.
