- Sporting Cristal Lima have lost their last 2 matches, 2-0 at Cerro Porteno in the Copa Libertadores and 3-2 at Cienciano in Liga 1.
- Deportivo Garcilaso are in good form, unbeaten in four of their last 5 matches, having beaten Universidad Tecnica de Cajamarca and Juan Pablo II College and drawn 0-0 at Comerciantes Unidos.
- The last head-to-head in the Liga 1 Apertura ended 1-1 and the hosts are undefeated in their last 2 against Garcilaso.
Crystals are looking to put their house in order
Sporting Cristal Lima vs Deportivo Garcilaso preview: Sporting Cristal Lima are the clear home favorites to beat Deportivo Garcilaso in Friday's Liga 1 - Clausura fixture, but a 5.99 is a large enough price on the visitors to make us hesitate before jumping on the home side too quickly.
Although Roberto Mosquera has only just taken the helm, his return to Sporting Cristal Lima should help to put a new directness and faster tempo to the home team's play.
Cristal's natural tendency is to control the ball in midfield and push the opposition wide, but Mosquera's influence should allow them to be a threat in transition and from the flanks.
They should be better to play the visitors now than they were when they were a little bit more methodical and predictable, but Deportivo Garcilaso look good in their own right at the moment.
Garcilaso will give it their best shot
Sebastian Dominguez's men are unbeaten in four of their last five, drawing 0-0 to Comerciantes Unidos, but beating Universidad Tecnica de Cajamarca and second-flight side Juan Pablo II College.
Garcilaso play with a 4-4-2 shape that is compact at the back, but can open up and punish the opponent with their two direct strikers if they can win the ball in dangerous areas.
Christopher Olivares has been their main attacking outlet of late, scoring 3 of Garcilaso's 9 goals in their last 5 outings, while Sporting Cristal Lima have been getting most of their joy from veteran Yotun, who has 3 to his name in the same 5.
Sporting Cristal Lima's home form is slightly better than their away results this season.
Across all competitions, Deportivo Garcilaso have 1 win, 2 draws and 2 defeats away from home and average just 0.60 goals per game on the road, while Sporting Cristal Lima have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1 at home, scoring 1.50 goals per match.
Betting tips for this fixture suggest a tight contest, with both teams capable of making an impact.
Sporting Cristal Lima have the edge
Deportivo Garcilaso have failed to win either of their last 2 away games against Sporting Cristal Lima, which suggests the hosts should have the upper hand in this one.
However, the away side are in better overall form, and the 1.48 odds on the favourites remain.
That's why we are looking for a tight game as the market currently anticipates, with Both Teams To Score - Yes at 1.69 and Over 2.5 Goals at 1.53 more likely than a runaway win.
Sporting Cristal Lima vs Deportivo Garcilaso prediction points to a narrow home victory, and a 1-0 or 2-1 Sporting Cristal Lima win is the most likely result we feel, in what should be a nervy game.
That prediction also fits the expectation that the match will be decided by small margins.
