The duel at the National Stadium in Lima faces teams located in third and fourth place in the table; a victory assures the Tricolor classification.
Ecuador will seek this Tuesday to seal its ticket to the World Cup in Qatar-2022 before the admirable Peru in Lima, in the most important game of the sixteenth date of the South American qualifier which will be closely followed by the other teams in the region.
All eyes will be focused on the duel in Lima between the teams located in the third and fourth place in the table, behind Brazil and Argentina, already classified.
The young ecuadorian national team (24 points) has had the most consistent campaign behind the two South American powers, but Peru (20) achieved a spectacular comeback after being in penultimate position just three months ago.
The coach of Ecuador, the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, found a good generation, with a powerful physique, who does not play spectacularly but is effective, in addition to the help of the height of Quito (2,850 meters above sea level). At home, the tricolor has garnered 17 of its 24 points.
While, Peru, led by fellow Argentine Ricardo Gareca, evolved and found an effective game mode without his idol and scorer Paolo Guerrero, thanks to the appearance of Italian-Peruvian gunner Gianluca Lapadula and the recovery of midfielder Christian Cueva.
Peru is the only team that has beaten Ecuador (2-1) in Quito in this tie.
Peru accumulates four casualties for the decisive duel against Ecuador, but recovers its starting sides
the tricolors they are in third place for a long time and if they win the three points in Lima they will seal their ticket to Qatar-2022. Even if they tie or lose they will still be in the same position regardless of the other results of the day.
Ecuador qualified for the World Cup for the last time in Brazil-2014.
without the captain
Alfaro will not count against Peru with goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, sent off against Brazil on Thursday, nor with the striker and captain Enner Valencia, suspended for accumulation of yellow cards.
“For me it is one of the most important games of my career, as was the one in Brazil,” said Alfaro.
“We know that we are going to face a rival that has been doing things very well and that he has been fighting for the same thing that we have been fighting for,” he added.
It will be a “complicated battle” against Peru, says Félix Torres
Ecuador is coming off a 1-1 draw at home with undefeated Brazil, While Peru won 1-0 against Colombia in Barranquilla in a match that shook up the qualifying round, moving Uruguay to the playoff zone (19 points) and relegating the unproductive coffee team to sixth place (17).
‘Another ending’
The Inca team wants to take advantage of its local condition, where he has won half of his 20 points, to get a fourth win in a row that brings him closer to Qatar.
“We are going to face a team that is well positioned and has just played a good game against Brazil. What’s coming is yet another final”, highlighted Gareca, who has led Peru since 2015 and took it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the first that the Inca team played since Spain-1982.
“The group is already psyched up for what they want, which are the three points, so we are going to go with a lot of humility and tranquility. We are focused on Ecuador”, stated Cueva.
The Tiger will align with Child Lapadula, midfielders Yoshimar Yotún and Renato Tapia, but He will not have Cueva or defender Aldo Corzoboth suspended.
Peru vs. Ecuador: dates, times and channels to watch the South American qualifying match live towards Qatar-2022
The selection of Ecuador will arrive in Lima that Monday afternoon, a town that will host the duel this February 1 from 9:00 p.m. at the National Stadium in Lima, before more than 30,000 spectators, 70% of the capacity allowed by the sanitary restrictions of COVID-19. The game will be directed by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.
In the next double date, penultimate and last of the World Cup, Peru will visit Uruguay and receive Paraguay, while Ecuador will visit Paraguay and receive Argentina. (D)
Likely lineups:
Peru:
Pedro Gallese; Luis Advíncula, Miguel Trauco, Alexander Callens, Marco López, Carlos Zambrano; Yoshimar Yotún, Christofer Gonzales, Sergio Peña, André Carrillo; Gianluca Lapadula. DT: Ricardo Gareca.
Ecuador:
Hernan Galindez; Ángelo Preciado, Félix Torres, Piero Hincapié, Pervis Estupiñán; Carlos Gruezo, Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo, Gonzalo Plata, Ayrton Preciado; Michael Strada. DT: Gustavo Alfaro.
Source: Eluniverso
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