Panama and Costa Rica will be looking for an early edge in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup when they meet Monday. Costa Rica have won three Concacaf titles, while Panama have made the final twice but haven't won it. Now they square off in a critical match to open their Gold Cup campaigns. They are the highest-ranked teams in a group with El Salvador and Martinique, so the result will play a big role in determining who advances. The last meeting between the teams came in March, and Panama won that 2023 Concacaf Nations League match 1-0. They then lost to Canada 2-0 in the semifinals, and Mexico beat them 1-0 in the third-place match June 18. Costa Rica have lost friendly matches with Guatemala and Ecuador since then.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Caesars Sportsbook lists Panama as +129 favorites (risk $100 to win $129), with Costa Rica +245 underdogs, in its latest Costa Rica vs. Panama odds. A draw is +185, and the over/under for total goals scored is set at 1.5, with the Over juiced to -180. Before locking in any Costa Rica vs. Panama picks or 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup predictions, you need to see what proven soccer insider Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since last year's World Cup, Green has been profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including the Champions League (+4.78 units), the FA Cup (+3.07), the EFL Cup (+3.64), Euro 2024 qualifiers (+3.01) and the Europa League (+1.60).
Now, Green has broken down Costa Rica vs. Panama from every angle and just revealed his picks and Gold Cup predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see Green's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Panama vs. Costa Rica:
- Costa Rica vs. Panama spread: Panama -0.5 (+120)
- Costa Rica vs. Panama over/under: 1.5 goals (Over -180, Under +135)
- Costa Rica vs. Panama money line: Costa Rica +245, Panama +129, Draw +185
- Costa Rica: They have two clean sheets in their past 10 games.
- Panama: They have scored in eight of their past 11 matches.
- Costa Rica vs. Panama picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Panama
Los Caneleros are 31-12-16 all-time against Costa Rica and have lost just once in the past seven meetings (5-1-1). The only loss was in 2022 World Cup Qualifying, with Los Ticos taking a 1-0 victory. But that match was at Costa Rica's National Stadium, and Panama had a 16-9 advantage in shots and held 64% possession. The previous meeting ended 0-0, but Panama outshot the visitors 18-4 and didn't allow an attempt on target. Los Ticos have since lost several notable contributors.
Costa Rica's golden generation is on its last legs, and they come in on a 1-0-3 run. The only victory was a 2-1 road triumph against Concacaf minnow Martinque, who held a 1-0 lead into the 88th minute. Panama's roster includes 11 players with at least 30 caps, and four are over 100, including Alberto Quintero and MLS veteran Anibal Godoy. Cecilio Waterman is the top scorer with eight goals in 25 games, and Quintero has seven. Jose Fajardo scored the winner in the March meeting for his fifth. See which side to back at SportsLine.
Why you should back Costa Rica
Los Ticos have lost some players since Qatar, but they still have several key veterans. They include iconic goalkeeper Keylor Navas, midfielder Celso Borges and defender Oscar Duarte. Striker Joel Campbell, 30, also is among that group, and the 30-year-old has 25 goals in 122 matches. Borges has 27 goals in 158 games, the most appearances in team history. Navas, a two-time Concacaf Player of the Year, has 32 clean sheets in 79 competitive matches and has played in 110 overall.
Costa Rica are known for their physical play and stifling defense, and Panama don't have any true scoring threats. Panama have won just two of their past 10 matches (2-4-4), and while one of those was against Los Ticos, Costa Rica held the ball for 58% of the game. Costa Rica know they are still capable of being competitive with top teams, and they pulled off a 1-0 victory against a strong Japan side in November. They led Germany with 20 minutes left in the ensuing match before losing 4-2. See which side to back at SportsLine.
How to make picks for Costa Rica vs. Panama
Green has broken down the Costa Rica vs. Panama match from every angle and locked in a pair of best bets for this Concacaf Gold Cup 2023 group match. He's only sharing those picks here.
Who wins Panama vs. Costa Rica in Monday's Concacaf Gold Cup group-stage match, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Costa Rica vs. Panama, all from the soccer expert who has been profitable in multiple areas.
