Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the fifth round of the Copa Libertadores group stage will take place on Thursday, May 14, in Lima, where Sporting Cristal will host Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño at Estadio Nacional. Kick-off is scheduled for 02:30 Central European Time. Let's take a look at a bet on team scoring in this clash.
Sporting Cristal
The hosts had a rocky start to the Copa Libertadores group stage, suffering two consecutive defeats—first against Palmeiras, then against Bolívar. However, the team regrouped and managed to pick up points: first, they drew 2-2 away against Cerro Porteño, and then they took revenge on Bolívar at home with a 2-1 victory. After four rounds, the team sits third with 4 points and a goal difference of 6–9. A win in the upcoming match is crucial, as it would allow them to climb to second place ahead of the final round, where they will face group leaders Palmeiras—an encounter where points will be hard to come by.
In the domestic league, Sporting Cristal also remains in the upper part of the table—fifth place, 19 points after 11 matches, and only 4 points off the top spot. The team's form deserves special mention: they are unbeaten in their last four matches, with three wins and a draw, consistently scoring at least two goals per game. However, their defense has been shaky—they have also conceded in each of those fixtures.
Cerro Porteño
The visitors, meanwhile, kicked off their Copa Libertadores campaign with a 4-2 home win over Bolívar. They then suffered a defeat away to Palmeiras, drew 2-2 at home with Sporting Cristal, and lost again to the Brazilian side. Thus, after four rounds, Cerro Porteño sits second, level on 4 points with their upcoming opponents but holding a better goal difference—6 scored and 7 conceded.
In the Paraguayan league, Cerro Porteño is third, trailing the leader by 5 points. The club has shown strong form away from home, stringing together three consecutive road wins in recent matches. As for head-to-heads with Sporting Cristal, the history between these teams features three matches, with Cerro Porteño holding the edge—two draws and one win.
Interesting facts and head-to-heads
- Sporting Cristal has won 4 of their last 6 matches.
- Sporting Cristal has won 12 of their last 14 home games.
- Over 2.5 goals have been scored in Sporting Cristal's last 4 matches.
- Cerro Porteño has won 3 of their last 4 away games.
Probable lineups
- Sporting Cristal: Enríquez, Lutiger, Chávez, Romero, Sosa, Pretel, Távara, Alarcón, Pacheco, Castro, Cauteruccio.
- Cerro Porteño: Arias, Benítez, Pérez, Rivas, Quintana, Velázquez, Da Motta, Farina, Carrizo, Torres, Iturbe.
Sporting Cristal vs Cerro Porteño match prediction
Both teams enter the match level on points and with realistic chances of advancing from the group, guaranteeing a tense and hard-fought battle for second place. Sporting Cristal are strong at home and rarely leave the pitch without scoring, while Cerro Porteño have hit top form away from home. Both sides have defensive issues but are consistently finding the net. My pick for this match: both teams to score, odds 1.73.
