This Wednesday, the Cacique will play a final against the “Intimos de La Victoria”, in the Peruvian capital. The Blue and White’s recent history in the Copa Libertadores has been negative, so much so that they haven’t won a home game in 12 years.
Colo Colo He did in one time against Audax Italiano what he had not achieved in 90 minutes and a fraction against Fluminense: be effective in the opposing goal. Of course, there is no comparison between one rival and another, but the Cacique calibrated his goal at La Florida to achieve a 4-1 victory, which he achieved in the first half. Jorge Almirón’s side were in need of recovery after defeat to Flu in the Copa Libertadores, where a goalless deficit threatened their aspirations.
In short, the popular team will have to seek to rank as visitors. The first obstacle will be this Wednesday, in Peru, against Alianza Lima, a casting that also has its chance, even if it appears as the weakest casting of group A. Looking at the glass half full, from the sidewalk of Colocolina, they depend on themselves to get the ticket for the round of 16: win both matches. But it won’t be an easy task.
The ‘Intimates of La Victoria’, directed by the Colombian Alejandro Restrepo, who have already complicated the life of the Cacique at Deportivo Pereira, have not won in group A, in which they barely have three points. Regardless, their chances of continuing the race or, at least, finishing third and advancing to the Copa Sudamericana remain. In the Peruvian League 1 2024, they occupy fourth place with 30 points. In 15 matches, they have 10 wins and five losses, with 29 goals scored and 11 against.
Although he is a constant performer of the Inca championship, the truth is that Its international participations have left a bad image in recent times. It is precisely this factor that fuels Colo Colo’s options to obtain a good result in Lima and thus be able to play the qualification against Cerro Porteño, in Asunción.
Alianza’s path to the Copa Libertadores, in its recent history, has been winding and traumatic. The figures confirm this situation. Doing the exercise of reviewing the blue and white team’s performances over the last decade in the continent’s premier competition, the result indicates that they have barely won a match. During this period, there are seven participations, in different phases (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024), and 36 matches played. The bad record is one victory, nine draws and 26 defeats. This victory dates from 2023, against Libertad of Paraguay by 2-1.
But there is a “curse” that the Lima team carries on its back, as if it were a cross that cannot be removed. This is linked to their home performance in the Cup. The Libertadores haven’t won at home since 2012. It’s been 12 years with a very negative streak. It dates back to March 13, 2012, in a 1-0 victory against Uruguay’s Nacional, thanks to a goal from José Carlos Fernández, nicknamed the “Peruvian Zlatan”. This Alianza team had knowledge of the Creole environment, such as Paolo Hurtado (former midfielder of Unión Española) and Walter Ibáñez (former defender of Universidad Católica). El Bolso was led by Marcelo Gallardo, currently in difficulty in Saudi Arabia, separated from Al Ittihad.
Between this 2012 victory and the 2023 victory against Gumarelo, the “Intimos de La Victoria” had a streak of 30 games without winning in the tournament. As a backdrop, this gives another aura to the visit that Colo Colo will have this Wednesday, since he will have to recover the points that he did not obtain at the Monumental against the same rival.
Although in 2024 it has been reinforced by Cecilio Waterman, the goal man is the former Hernán Barcos. At 40, the Argentinian continues to make the difference. He is the team’s top scorer in Ligue 1 with seven goals (former Panamanian Cobresal appears with five). In all competitions, he has 4 goals in his last three matches: one against UTC, another against Cerro Porteño and two last Saturday, in the victory against Sport Huancayo.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
