Sporting Cristal (Peru) vs Huracan (Argentina)
Sporting Cristal showed a worthy version on their visit to Huracan last Wednesday, when they secured an important scoreless draw that gives them the chance of advancing to the Copa Libertadores’ group stage in the event of winning at home. On Sunday, coach Tiago Nunes fielded a completely alternative XI that registered a 4-4 away draw at Deportivo Garcilaso, which places them in fifth spot of the Peruvian Torneo Apertura table with nine points in five rounds, four behind their last opponents who are leaders. Cristal succumbed to a single defeat across their last eight competitive matches, winning three and drawing four in that time. At home, they are unbeaten in the last four, with three victories and one stalemate.
Meanwhile, Huracan fans will have felt frustrated after the team’s 0-0 home draw against Sporting Cristal last week as they now need to win on the road in order to avoid the penalty shootout. Boss Diego Dabove rested his regulars on Sunday and El Globo ended up losing 2-1 away at Estudiantes, a defeat that put an end to their ten-match unbeaten streak of five victories and five draws in all competitions. Huracan remain on 12 points in seven matches in the Liga Profesional, trailing arch-rivals San Lorenzo (who are leaders) by four. On away turf, the side are now on four official matches without a win, having drawn three and lost one since beating Defensa y Justicia 4-2 in January.
Huracan are favorites again but I expect this to be a tight match like the scoreless draw of the 1st leg and I’m going with the hosts not to lose.