Cristal, a leader with the aroma of a champion? Cauteruccio’s scoring return, the importance of González and why the fixture favors him against the U

They suffered more than necessary against a team that only won one of its last eight games. But he finally won: Sporting Cristal beat Alianza Atlético 2-1 and, taking advantage of the fall of Universitario in Tarma against ADT last Friday, he once again took the lead in the Apertura Tournament of League 1 Te Apuesta.

The celestial ones could have resolved the game much earlier, just as the northerners were close to leaving with a tie, especially because of what was done in the second half. In fact, Paraguayan forward Adrián Fernández had two penalties and missed one. The Alberto Gallardo stadium ended up asking for the end time.

Even with the havoc of not having captain Yoshimar Yotún due to injury, Cristal achieved an important victory. He also celebrated the scoring return of Martín Cauteruccio. The Argentine ‘9’ made it 2-0 momentarily (the first was done by Nicolás Pasquini) after a mistake by goalkeeper Diego Melian and scored again after 44 days. ‘Caute’ scored his 14th goal in League 1 and remains, by far, the top scorer. Carlos Garcés from Cienciano follows him with eight scores. Not even the time he spent off the court due to a health problem was enough for them to even reach the table.

And in the Rímac they celebrate the return of Cauteruccio. Beyond the fact that he missed a couple of goals in an incredible way and that he is still not at his one hundred percent, the fact that the ‘9’ I scored in this final stretch is very important. At the Bajopontino club they know it perfectly.

Added to his return is the great moment that Santiago Gonzales is experiencing. He arrived as a bet from the second division of Argentine soccer and has shown a superior level from the beginning. He has five goals and five assists in 14 league games. He is regular and an all-rounder who he attacks and defends. He is, perhaps, the most dangerous weapon that coach Enderson Moreira wields. And with him, the Brazilian Cazonatti, a pattern in the middle. In addition to Joao Grimaldo, he must stop being irregular and be more sharp in his plays as he had been doing in the first games of the season. Cristal needs him like this, influential and decisive in attack.

The fixture favors them, although…

The table goes like this: Cristal leads with 34, Universitario second with 33 and, with fewer possibilities, Melgar third with 29. There are three dates left, that is, nine points. But the next day is an early final, it will be the match that defines the Apertura champion. The light blues will visit the creams at the Monumental with the sole objective of not losing.

The fixture clearly favors the leader as long as he leaves the merengue fort alive. If he does so, he will only have to receive a Unión Comercio that has not won in eight games and visit a Comerciantes Unidos that at home won two of the last six games they had.

On the other hand, Universitario needs to visit Cienciano in Cusco and then receive Chankas at the Monumental. But with the disadvantage that in the middle of the Apertura definition they will have to play Copa Libertadores, a tournament that is also fighting to qualify for the round of 16.

It is true that they will not leave Lima in the next two weeks, but this Tuesday they will clash with Junior from Colombia, then on Sunday they will do the same against Cristal and next Thursday they will face Botafogo from Brazil. Fatigue, in a squad with little turnover, could take its toll. Or at least that’s what they hope at Rímac.