Will Peru turn the corner against Bolivia?
The last World Cup in Russia in 2018 was Peru’s first appearance at a World Cup since 1982. Although the adventure at the 2018 World Cup ended in the group stage, the euphoria among the Peruvians was great to be represented at the next World Cup. However, this optimism has since fizzled out.
Six matchdays before the end of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Peru are in penultimate place in the table. So far, the “Blanquirroja” have only won three matches in twelve days of the current 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and there have also been two draws. On the other hand, Peru lost seven out of twelve qualifying matches. Only Venezuela scored fewer points than the Peruvians in this period.
On matchday 13 of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Peru have a must-win task on their agenda. In their own stadium, the Peruvians will meet the guests from the neighbouring country Bolivia. In contrast to Peru, Bolivia have recently taken maximum points twice in a row. The six points were mainly thanks to the home advantage.
Bolivia’s home matches are played in one of the highest stadiums in the world. For guests, it is a real mammoth task to adapt to the special conditions. Bolivia’s recent form should therefore not be overestimated, especially as the match against Peru will be played away from home. The match will kick off in Lima’s National Stadium at sea level and not at 3,500 metres above sea level as in La Paz.
Peru – Statistics & current form
Peru have their backs to the wall just a few matchdays before the end of the qualifying phase. Only with support can the Peruvians still make a leap to one of the five starting places for the 2022 World Cup – fifth place in the table guarantees at least the Play-Offs. After three defeats in the last four matchdays, however, there is little to suggest that the Peruvians will make a comeback.
The next two group games will set the tone. Against Bolivia and Venezuela, the Peruvian national team has no room for further point losses. Before the away game in Venezuela, Peru will benefit from home advantage against Bolivia and will be aiming for a third win in a row.
The “Blanquirroja” has already won against Venezuela and Chile in their own stadium. For the first time since May 2018, the Peruvians are now aiming for a third home win in a row. The home record against their upcoming opponents from Bolivia is also encouraging.
Dutiful task against the Bolivians?
Peru have not lost a home game against Bolivia since September 1989. In the last five home matches, the Peruvian national team has won three against the Bolivians. This includes the last encounter in World Cup qualifying four years ago, where Peru celebrated a narrow home victory (2-1).
During this international break, national coach Ricardo Gareca, who has been in charge for more than six years, will have to do without several key players. Polo, Reyna, Ruidiaz and Guerrero, among others, could not be called up to the squad due to injury. The latter is Peru’s record goalscorer with 38 goals in 107 appearances.
In his absence, Lapadula is expected to be set up front. Jefferson Farfán, the oldest player in the current squad at 37, is only a wild card. If the “Blanquirroja” can turn the tide against the Bolivians, odds of 1.39 are paid out for tip 1 on Peru vs Bolivia.
Predicted line-up of Peru:
Gallese; Trauco, Callens, Zambrano, Lora; Aquino; Garcia, Yotun, Gonzales, Cueva; Lapadula
Last matches played by Peru:
World Cup – CONMEBOL qualifiers
10/15 2021 – Argentina 1 – 0 Peru
10/10 2021 – Bolivia 1 – 0 Peru
10/08 2021 – Peru 2 – 0 Chile
09/10 2021 – Brazil 2 – 0 Peru
09/06 2021 – Peru 1 – 0 Venezuela
Bolivia – Statistics & current form
Bolivia were still one of the weakest teams in the current 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign during the last international break. Because “La Verde” scored three times in a row, the Bolivians managed a small comeback for the time being. At least the gap to the starting places for the 2022 World Cup has shrunk.
However, the Bolivian national team’s form should not be overestimated in view of the upcoming away match in Peru. Bolivia have played their last two home matches in their own stadium. The Bolivians benefited above all from the special circumstances in the notorious Estadio Hernando Siles.
Among other things, Bolivia also beat Peru. Despite being shorthanded, Bolivia scored on a lightning-quick counter-attack in the closing stages to beat the Peruvians 1-0 and end their ongoing negative streak against the “Blanquirroja”. Bolivia had previously gone nine consecutive international matches without a win against Peru.
On foreign soil only a supplier of points?
In contrast to their results at home, Bolivia have been largely harmless away from home. So far, the Bolivian national team has lost four of its six away matches in the current 2022 World Cup qualifiers. There have also been two draws.
Bolivia have conceded a total of 18 goals in their six away matches, making them statistically the weakest defensive line on foreign soil. The last time Bolivia lost three away matches in a row was in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, where they conceded a total of ten goals. It is quite possible that the next away debacle will follow in Peru.
National coach Cesar Farias can draw on a wide range of players during the current international break. Among other things, there are numerous young players in the squad who were called up to the Bolivian national squad for the first time ever. Among them is 18-year-old youngster Mauricio Alvarez from Club Bolivar.
Predicted Bolivia line-up:
Lampe; Je. Sagredo, Saavedra, Haquin, Quinteros, Jo. Sagredo; R. Vaca, Justiniano, Bejarano; Abrego, Moreno
Last matches played by Bolivia:
Friendly match
11/06 2021 – El Salvador 0 – 1 Bolivia
World Cup – CONMEBOL qualifier
10/14 2021 – Bolivia 4 – 0 Paraguay
10/10 2021 – Bolivia 1 – 0 Peru
10/08 2021 – Ecuador 3 – 0 Bolivia
09/10 2021 – Argentina 3 – 0 Bolivia
Peru – Bolivia Direct comparison / H2H balance
For the 50th time, Peru and Bolivia will meet. So far, the Peruvian national team leads the head-to-head comparison against the Bolivians with a record of 24-11-14. Before the latest defeat to Bolivia, Peru had gone unbeaten against “La Verde” nine times in a row. During this period, there were a total of five wins and four draws for the Peruvians.
The last time Bolivia visited Peru in the World Cup qualifiers, they suffered a narrow away defeat. Not only did bets on over 2.5 goals in the match pay off, but also on “both teams to score”.
Peru – Bolivia tip
Peru has no margin for further loss of points against either Bolivia or Venezuela. The home match against Bolivia is particularly trend-setting. After three defeats in the last four matchdays, the Peruvians are under pressure to win. Even before the home match against Bolivia, the gap to the starting places for the 2022 World Cup is five points.
Bolivia, on the other hand, are only four points behind. In the last international break, the Bolivians picked up two home victories in a row and were thus able to partially compensate for their weak start to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. This time, however, the Bolivian national team is playing away from home, so the last results are of little significance. Betting on tip 2 for Peru against Bolivia at odds of around 9 is more foolhardy than realistic.
Away from home, Bolivia have mostly been low-scoring in the current World Cup qualifiers. Most recently, the Bolivians suffered three away defeats in a row in the current qualifying phase for the 2022 World Cup. It is therefore obvious to place a bet on the home side in Peru vs Bolivia.
We opt for the prediction “HT/FT: 1/1” for Peru vs Bolivia. The bookmakers are offering attractive odds in the region of 1.90 on Peru vs Bolivia. For our prediction we use a total of five units.
