Carlo Ancelotti's debut as Brazil's national team manager ended in a goalless draw against Ecuador. The match, held on Thursday, lacked both quality and opportunities. Ancelotti took over after leaving Real Madrid, filling a managerial void since March when Dorival Junior was dismissed. Despite the draw aiding both teams' World Cup qualification hopes, Brazil's performance fell short of expectations.Brazil faced challenges breaking through Ecuador's solid defence. Vinicius Junior had the best chance in the first half, but his shot was saved by Gonzalo Valle. Valle remained largely untested for the rest of the half. Ecuador, unbeaten in 14 home matches before this game, nearly capitalised after halftime when John Yeboah set up Nilson Angulo, who was ruled offside.The match statistics reflected a lacklustre performance from both sides. Neither team achieved an expected goals (xG) total above 0.5; Ecuador recorded 0.46 while Brazil managed only 0.38 with three shots overall and two on target. Each team created just one significant chance during the game, according to Opta.Ecuador remains second in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, trailing Argentina by 10 points. Brazil sits fourth, two points behind Ecuador and seven points clear of the play-off position with three games left. Meanwhile, Uruguay lost 2-0 to Paraguay at the same time, dropping below Brazil in the table.

Ecuador's Impressive Home Record

Ecuador's draw extended their unbeaten home streak to 15 matches and marked their tenth clean sheet in their last 15 World Cup qualifiers. This defensive resilience has been crucial for their strong position in the qualifying table.Casemiro tested Valle again with a long-range attempt later in the match. Richarlison missed an opportunity to challenge Valle further after receiving a promising pass from Vinicius Junior.Ancelotti's start with Brazil may not have been ideal, but it provides a foundation to build upon as they prepare for upcoming matches against Paraguay and others in their quest for World Cup qualification success.