“Due to the weight and shape of these teams, between Cristal and the U is the winner of the Clausura”: the analysis of the favorites in the final stretch of League 1

That is why, shortly after the Closing ends, Trade He asked three questions to prominent journalists to try to explain what could happen in this second tournament of the year, so criticized in recent days by the national team’s coach, Juan Reynoso.

Daniel Kanashiro – Direct TV

1. There is no great favorite, this is defined on the last date, it seems to me. They all have an even and irregular performance. It would be risky to make a projection.

2. Yes. Alianza has an ace up its sleeve, which is the difference it has in the accumulated amount. I think that the cushion of the Apertura Tournament is enough for them, beyond the alignment problems, to ensure at least the direct final.

3. In Cristal, Grimaldo continues to be the most important offensive piece within a group. In the U, everything works based on the collective from back to front, due to the pressure it exerts as a whole. Melgar is clearly a collective of 11 that moves as a unified line. Alianza depends on the hierarchy and scoring ability of Hernán Barcos, without Barcos Alianza is left without definition.

Eddie Fleischman – Willax TV

1. Between Cristal and the U

2. Yes. He has won the opening game and almost certainly the accumulated one.

3. I’m not sure, there goes Barcos, Ignacio, D’Arrigo, Edison Flores and Carvallo.

Irene Carranza – Peru Sports Magazine

1. It is very disputed. I think he would be between Melgar and Universitario. The emotional boost that the U has had in beating UCV in Trujillo is decisive. On the other hand, Melgar comes from tying Alianza in his own house, it is no small merit.

2. Odds exist. However, Alianza no longer depends on itself, it has very strong teams above it. Melgar has not lost in five games, Universitario has to play at home, it is unlikely that they will lose. Maybe I would doubt Sporting Cristal a little, they have to show their face, since these last 4 games they have been on the decline.

3. More than one name comes to mind. In my opinion, Ureña has been a player who has contributed a lot to Universitario. A player who withstands pressure, is good at driving the ball and is another man in defense. The only bad thing is that he hasn’t done well with the warnings. The Chilean has three red cards in the entire championship. He is debatable, yes, but this does not take away from the great campaign he has had in the ‘U’. Another, if you allow me, I should mention, is Ignacio Da Silva at Sporting Cristal. A player who already renewed his contract and was on the radar of other clubs due to his great contribution. He is a lock to the Crystal arch. For me, he is one of the best, if not the best defender of the season.

Ornella Palumbo – TV PERU

1. Looking at the fixture, I think Sporting Cristal has better opportunities to score points.

The light blue team will host Sport Huancayo, which recently beat Melgar on a visit, but has had little success away from home this year. Then, Nunes’s team will visit the struggling Cienciano and will close by hosting Alianza Atlético, a match that should ensure three points for the Rimenses.

Universitario de Deportes can beat UTC, which has won only one away game this season. Visiting Cusco will have a difficult time, since the Cusco team have only lost one game at home all year. With Sport Huancayo it is difficult to say. He beat Melgar recently, but for the rest of 2023 it has been difficult for him to add three outside his city.

Alianza Lima will visit Binacional, which is becoming strong at the height, although it has lost against the greats, both against Cristal and the “U”. Then, the blue and white must be careful with ADT who has lost only two games in the Clausura. And they close by visiting Garcilaso, who defends himself well in his house.

Melgar has a rest date, which reduces his opportunities to score points.

2. Yes. He is the leader of the accumulated table with six points over his closest pursuer, the “U”, he has recovered Reyna and Peruzzi for the final stretch and has the possibility of adding points in the remaining games.

3. Ignácio, the Sporting Cristal defender. Throughout the season it has been surpassed on rare occasions. It is a guarantee to prevent the rival from reaching the goal.

Pedro Ortiz Bisso – El Comercio Journalist

1. Sporting Cristal.

2. He is the top candidate.

3. Piero Quispe, Jairo Concha and Ignacio

Eduardo Flores – Fine Touch – Sports Marketing

1. I will say two candidates, due to the weight and the way in which these teams have convinced themselves of how much they can give. So, it would be Cristal and Universitario, despite the fact that Cristal slipped in this last surprise draw for everyone, they have plenty of squad to win the next three remaining games. In the case of the U, the creamy claw, this spirit of confidence, I also feel that fighting until the last game of the Clausura tournament is in vain.

2. Of course yes, Alianza is a team that has shown how to fight in the most difficult moments and had more than 6 injured or had to travel to Cusco twice in one week, it has everything to reach the final without any problem.

3. The teams that are at the top are due to the efforts of their best players, in that sense there is a fight inch by inch between three players in the Clausura Tournament. Hernán Barcos in Alianza, Grimaldo in Cristal and Urruti in Universitario de Deportes.