- Cienciano Cusco are unbeaten at home in Liga 1 - Apertura, W5, D1 from 6.
- Comerciantes Unidos are unbeaten in their last 5, W2, D3.
- Cienciano Cusco have scored 18 goals in just 6 home games in the Liga 1 - Apertura.
A classic South American matchup
Saturday’s fixture between Cienciano Cusco and Comerciantes Unidos will be a stylistic clash between two teams sitting quite close to each other in the Liga 1 - Apertura standings, with 3rd-placed Cusco boasting 23 points from 12 games, and 5th-placed Comerciantes Unidos on 19 points from 12. As part of our Cienciano Cusco vs Comerciantes Unidos preview, this match stands out due to the competitive nature of both squads and their recent performances.
Under Melgarejo, Cusco have shown a real ability to control possession and the tempo of the game in a more structured way than most teams in the Peruvian top-flight, particularly at home. Their 4-2-3-1 system is flexible and they are adept at picking the lock of compact defensive blocks, while they’re deadly on the break with plenty of offensive quality to make teams pay for pressing forward.
However, Cusco have been rather hot and cold recently, with two wins, two draws and a defeat from their last 5, although both of these games were played away from home. They were beaten 1-0 at struggling Los Chankas CYC and followed that up with a 2-2 draw against Universidad Tecnica de Cajamarca. Considering these outcomes, our Cienciano Cusco vs Comerciantes Unidos prediction takes into account their inconsistent away form.
Visitors could make it tricky
Comerciantes Unidos are a much more compact team than their hosts, Biaggio sets them up in a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1, which is tough to unlock and the team tends to work as a unit to stifle opponents and provide enough defensive stability for them to hurt teams on the counter attack or from set-pieces.
They have had a solid run of form, avoiding defeat in their last 5 games, but have struggled away in the Liga 1 - Apertura, winning just 1 of their 5 games, with 2 draws and 2 defeats.
Comerciantes Unidos are a stubborn team and won’t fold easily, but with Cienciano’s dominance in recent H2Hs and their unbeaten home record in the Apertura, the Cienciano Cusco vs Comerciantes Unidos prediction gives the home side a significant edge, with the odds of 1.74 for the home win seeming very high for favorites.
Goals and chances at both ends
Over 2.5 goals is priced at 1.79, and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.71. This Cienciano Cusco vs Comerciantes Unidos betting tips article goes for both bets on this game as we see it being a really interesting game. Cusco have the ball and are used to controlling games, but Comerciantes Unidos are a frustrating team and will frustrate their hosts.
Cusco have the firepower to break down their guests and the altitude advantage of Inca Garcilaso will be a factor, so our Cienciano Cusco vs Comerciantes Unidos prediction is that we’re expecting a game with plenty of ebb and flow and an entertaining end-to-end affair.
Alejandro Hohberg has been in good form, netting 5 of Cienciano’s last 9 goals over their 5-game run, while Matias Sen has bagged 5 in 11 for the visitors in the Liga 1 - Apertura, netting two of their last 5.
Carlos Garces has been a reliable source of goals for Cienciano, netting 9 in 12 Liga 1 - Apertura games, and should see plenty of opportunities on Saturday.
