The best squad? Alianza Lima, a team easy to knock down and worries with a view to the classic | REPORT League 1 Betsson

It was Jesús Barco’s great goal just after minute 14 that ended up passing the sentence for Sport Boys, because their role as an uncomfortable rival was highly valued against an Alianza Lima team that never found the ball comfortably. Because Juan Morales played 10 points, because Jorge Ríos never stopped running and Jesús Barco dressed up to be the team’s driver.

A different reality for Alianza Lima, who despite having 63% possession, never knew what to do with the ball. Jairo Concha could not find a clean field to generate his game, so Hernán Barcos had to go back too far to start the plays, but the situation did not change before the heavy mark of the rosés.

It was difficult for Alianza Lima because Gabriel Costa’s bet still does not work on the field. Although he entered well against Sporting Cristal, against Sport Boys he was once again that player who waits for the play before creating it, who waits for the pass before moving in search of it.

Because Bryan Reyna entered very late. It is one of Chicho Salas’ weak points, reacting to changes. After a terrible first half, he trusted the same men to start the second, when Costa’s contribution was nil, when the ball could not be taken from the rosés.

He insisted on the same until minute 82. Although Alianza played in the opposite field, he never threatened the young Ismael Quispe’s goal. Míguez for Reyna -injured-, Aldair Rodríguez for Chávez -Zanelatto became a winger- were the variants. Andrés Andrade just entered in the 90th minute to play about ten for the extra time. Little to analyze in these conditions.

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And the campus?

Alianza did not work a week after the classic against a Universitario who arrives as the leader of the Clausura Tournament, although with a match in between against Corinthians for the Copa Sudamericana, which may be one more motivation or may take its toll due to wear and tear.

But how did Alianza Lima get to this point when talking about the best squad in the championship? Carlos Zambrano himself said it in an interview with El Comercio. “In the Libertadores you realize that the Peruvian league is like a bubble: we won almost every game,” said the Peruvian central defender.

And it is not exaggerating, because Alianza Lima this year has barely lost its fourth game on the field in the Betsso 1 League (Melgar, Huancayo, ADT and Boys), and lost a duel for WO. He still maintains the leadership of the accumulated table by four points over Cristal.

But he was only able to see Andrés Andrade one minute after exactly two months. An Alliance that could not even put Pablo Sabbag, Santiago García or Gino Peruzzi on the bench because it is difficult for them to overcome their ailments and that, in the words of Chicho Salas, is carrying out “a special plan” for the return of Christian Cueva.

Thus, the best squad in Liga 1 Betsson suffers casualties. That only four variants were made yesterday says a lot. On the bench were the goalkeeper Ítalo Espinoza, the young winger Nicolás Amalsifuen, the midfielders Jhoao Velasquez and Mauricio Arrasco and the brand player Oswaldo Valenzuela.

It has been difficult for Alianza to be a great team or at least to be a team that plays the best game of the tournament. His individualities have been saving him, such as Pablo Sabbag scoring goals out of nowhere or Hernán Barcos leaving the area to create space, but above all Bryan Reyna beating rivals on his wing. Only in the Clausura Jairo Concha has been able to show his potential, but he lacks a partner.

This is how Alianza Lima arrives at the classic on Saturday against Universitario in Matute. The intimates not only defend the house, but also have the obligation to transfer being the best team to a good and better team.

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