College vs. Alianza Lima: Alex Valera is a doubt for the Peruvian football classic

Universitario de Deportes will host Alianza Lima this Sunday, April 17 in a match valid for the 10th date of the 2022 League 1 Apertura Tournament. It will be the first Peruvian football classic of the season where both teams have been adjusting details to win this match. Precisely, the 'cream' painting has not ensured the presence of Alex Valera due to physical problems.

The same coach, Álvaro Gutiérrez, confirmed the news at a press conference. “Álex Valera making a great effort as he always felt in the match against Ayacucho. He has worked differentiated, we are evaluating him,” said the Uruguayan who will face the 'blues' for the first time since he took over as a coach earlier this year.

And it is that the Peruvian striker made a huge wear in the duel against the 'foxes' last Sunday, April 10, where the 'merengues' won over the hour by 2 to 1 with the agonizing goal of Andy Polo . In that commitment, Valera played the 90 minutes but did not finish in the best way, as he limped off the playing field.

However, one day after the match, he confessed to RPP Noticias that he was in good condition for the classic. “I am complete. Yesterday I only had an overload in the last few minutes on my left thigh but I already did therapy and I'm fine. Tomorrow I will return to training with the club and work for Sunday's match,” he said.

But the situation during the week changed. According to journalist Gustavo Peralta of ESPN Peru, this Thursday, the strategist 'charrua' held a practice match to define the starting eleven that would start at the Monumental Stadium. In this case, the Peruvian national team would have ended up feeling an annoyance that, at first, occurred in training last Tuesday, but that worsened at the last minute.

The first starting eleven that Gutiérrez tried was the following: Diego Romero in the arc. Gerson Barreto and Ivan Santillán as right and left backs, respectively. The backward consisted of Federico Alonso and Nelinho Quina. Angel Cayetano, Jorge Murrugarra and Hernán Novick played in the midfield. Later they lined up Piero Quispe, Andy Polo and Valera himself.

For the second half, the DT made some variations. José Carvallo took Romero's place under the 3 sticks. Aldo Corzo and Nelson Cabanillas took the side positions. Gerson Barreto took the wheel along with Cayetano and Quispe. While the attack was completed by Alberto Quintero, Polo and Alexander Succar as center forward.

Obviously, the replacement of the former Deportivo Llacuabamba gunner was Succar, who this season has only played in 4 matches (against Academia Cantolao, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Deportivo Municipal and Deportivo Binacional) without being able to appear on the scoreboard. Now, in this position I didn't have much choice, since Guillermo Larios was expelled against Ayacucho FC and Joao Villamarín has been used more as a winger than as an attacker in the middle.

If this loss of Valera is certified, it would be a very hard blow for the entity 'crema', because he is the team's scorer with 5 scores in 7 matches played. His growth has been remarkable, which has been boosted by his participation in the Peruvian national team, both in friendly matches (Panama and Jamaica) and in the Playoffs (which led to the draw goal play against Ecuador) in Lima).

SITUATION OF CARVALLO AND CORZO

On the other hand, the surprises that can be seen in the second team that Gutiérrez lined up are the inclusions of Carvallo and Corzo. Both had been away for a few weeks due to appendicitis and injury, respectively, although they have recently received medical discharge. Obviously, they don't come with a football rhythm, but the fact that they are essential pieces in the starting eleven could cause them to be taken into account among those called up to play against Alianza Lima.

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