The Copa America is just around the corner, and in preparation for that competition, Peru and Paraguay will play a friendly match at Estadio Monumental "U" in Lima on Friday.
The Peruvians are currently on a three-match unbeaten run in all competitions, defeating the Dominican Republic 4-1 in March, while La Albirroja lost their previous encounter, 1-0 versus Colombia and are winless in consecutive fixtures.
Match preview
© Reuters
A change in management has reversed the Peruvian fortunes so far this year, giving them plenty of optimism ahead of the Copa America, which begins later this month.
Jorge Fossati has won his only two matches at the helm, inheriting a team that had gone winless in seven successive matches in all competitions before his arrival.
Los Incas have scored six times in two games under their Uruguayan coach, one more than they had in their previous 12 matches in all competitions.
They will enter this game on a three-match unbeaten run on Peruvian soil, and they have not been behind in any of those encounters.
It is a good thing they have been able to draw first blood because this team have not reacted well when going behind, losing eight consecutive games when conceding the opening goal, scoring only once in reply.
While we are seeing some positive progression from them in 2024, it has been well over a year since they last defeated a side from the CONMEBOL region, claiming a 1-0 triumph over Bolivia in a November 2022 friendly.
© Reuters
It has been over six months since Paraguay last played an international match, though perhaps some time off was needed as this side have just one victory in their last six competitive fixtures.
During that run, the Paraguayans were particularly poor in the attacking third, failing to find the back of the net in five of those affairs.
Daniel Garnero's men are winless in their previous six away matches in all competitions, scoring in only one of those encounters (3-2 defeat versus Chile).
Despite their struggles of late, Paraguay are not that far behind the other CONMEBOL teams in 2026 World Cup qualifying, currently holding onto an inter-confederation playoff berth, with only three points separating them in seventh from Ecuador, who are fifth.
When they score first, it usually means good things, with the Paraguayans winning four consecutive matches in all competitions after drawing first blood and failing to concede a single goal in any of those contests.
Los Guaranies are winless in their previous 11 meetings versus Peru, with their last away triumph against them occurring in a February 2009 friendly (1-0).
- W
- W
- D
- L
- L
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Diego Romero is the only uncapped player on the Peruvian squad for this encounter, while Christian Cueva is two appearances away from 100 and Andre Carrillo is just three shy of that same mark.
Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese can claim his 105th cap on Friday, which would tie him with Hector Chumpitaz for fifth all-time, while Luis Advincula is just one appearance behind Paolo Guerrero for third.
Guerrero netted his record 39th goal for La Bicolor in their victory over the Dominican Republic, Piero Quispe and Jesus Castillo each scored their first international goals and Sergio Pena notched goal number four.
Seven players, including Alex Arce, Gabriel Aguayo, Fabrizio Peralta, Damian Bobadilla, Gustavo Velazquez, Nestor Gimenez, and Rodrigo Morinigo, will aim to collect their first senior cap for Paraguay in this match.
Angel Romero is nine caps away from the half-century mark, Alejandro Romero Gamarra needs two more to hit 20 and captain Gustavo Gomez is just three short of 75.
Of the players selected for this international window, Derlis Gonzalez is their top goalscorer, netting nine times for his country, two fewer than Miguel Angel Benitez and Roberto Cabanas for ninth all-time.
Peru possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Corzo, Santamaria, Abram; Advincula, Tapia, Pena, Quispe, Lopez; Flores, Guerrero
Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Ramirez, Gomez, Balbuena, Espinoza; Cubas, Villasanti; Rojas, Sanchez, Almiron; Gonzalez
We say: Peru 1-0 Paraguay
Peru look like a different side since the coaching change, and although we believe Paraguay will present a much stiffer challenge for them, La Albirroja have not been quite as convincing in the attacking third as La Bicolor.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
