- Universitario de Deportes are in good form, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their last five games Atletico Grau have won two and drawn three of their previous five in all competitions Universitario de Deportes' away record in the Liga 1 – Apertura 2025 reads won three, drawn two and lost two
Atletico Grau are on the up
The sides meet in the Peruvian capital on Thursday with a lot to play for in the closing stages of the Liga 1 – Apertura 2025. Atletico, who sit 10th in the table with 19 points from 14 games, are outside the playoff places, but they have been on the up in recent weeks.
Angel Comizzo, who took over at the club in August 2023, has instilled a sense of discipline in this team that are compact and difficult to break down when they set up shop.
Raul Ruidiaz has been their primary outlet in attack, having scored five goals in eight appearances in the Apertura 2025. The rest of the squad have been good at supporting him and the 19 points they have accumulated is more than many expected.
Universitario de Deportivo have hit a rich streak
This is a side that knows its strengths and limitations and those have not changed much since Comizzo took over in August 2023. Universitario de Deportes, however, have seen a change of manager with the Uruguayan Jorge Fossati appointed in May 2025.
The new man has brought a fresh impetus to the side and an attacking freedom that has brought about a winning streak at just the right time of the season. The Red and Whites are top of the table on 32 points from 15 matches, and are showing the credentials of a potential title winner.
Piero Quispe has been the engine room of this team, dictating the tempo and controlling the transitions from defense to attack while Jose Rivera has been the main goal scorer with six goals in 13 appearances in the Apertura.
Universitario can edge a low-scoring game
Their last three games have seen a 1-1 draw away at CA River Plate, a 1-0 away win at Ayacucho FC and a 5-0 win at home to Asociacion Deportiva Tarma. The 5-3-2 formation that Fossati employs is typically a strong defensive unit, but it can also be devastating when they transition quickly on the break.
Atletico Grau will be a very different test and it could be a chess match in which the organization of Comizzo’s men will try to blunt the efficiency of Universitario. Atletico Grau are unbeaten at home in the 2025 season, winning three and drawing four of their seven, while UdeP have won three, lost two and drawn two of their road games.
The odds favor the away team here with Atletico 3.19, Draw 3.34 and Universitario 2.45, but the visitors are justifiably in favour due to their current form. However, Grau are solid at home and this could be a tight game.
The last four meetings have been won twice by Universitario and drawn twice, with the most recent one a 1-1 draw at this venue in the 2024 edition of the Clausura. Atletico have never beaten the capital club in their two previous home games, but we think their solidity could make it a tie on Thursday. Backing ‘Under 2.5 goals’ looks good here as Universitario have only scored eight goals in their seven away games in the 2025 league campaign while Atletico have scored an average of 1.57 and conceded 0.86.
