After a month break it is Peruvian team returns to activity in the South American qualifying tournaments. Juan Reynoso’s team got off to an inconsistent start, picking up just one point from their first two games, so they now need at least one win to avoid relegation in the standings. It won’t be easy to get this invigorating victory as his rivals in the October doubleheader are Chile, which he will visit in Santiago, and Argentina, which will arrive in Lima with Lionel Messi and Co.
The most pressing issue the coach needs to resolve given the proximity of the game against La Roja is how to steal points from the Chilean capital. Historically, the Bicolor has managed this only twice, the last time more than 20 years ago, and in both cases they were hardly the result of draws.
Objectively speaking, getting a point away from home is no small matter, especially in a long-term career like this Qualifiers. For Peru, any result other than a loss at home to its classic rivals will likely be particularly good, considering that Chile is the only country in South America, alongside Brazil and Argentina, where it has no official winning records. .
Peru meets Chile again after more than two years. Photo: EFE
YOU CAN SEE: Peru vs. Chile: Latest news ahead of the Pacific qualifying classic
Should the Peruvian team aim for a win in Chile?
Despite all the advantages that a draw represents as a more than attractive scenario for the Blanquirroja, the ambition to win cannot be ignored. Firstly, because it would be the first time that a similar feat (history justifies this term) would be accomplished and the benefits it would bring would be far greater than settling for equality.
If Peru surprise and win at the Monumental, they could return to the World Cup qualifying places, although this also depends on other results. In addition, a victory would allow Bicolor to end some unfavorable periods, such as the first victory of the year in official competitions, as well as the first (also at the official level) of the entire Reynoso era.
The emotional uplift would also be noticeable, both for a squad with new additions (Oliver Sonne) and for the fans who still know the team very well at this beginning of the process, for example, the tickets for the game against Argentina were on the same day, sold out the day they went on sale.
Finally, there is something special: Since it is a classic, every victory is recognized twice. If the Peruvian team emerges victorious from the southern country, it will repay a historic debt since, unlike Peru and its history in Santiago, Chile has more than one game won in Lima. It’s up to Juan Reynoso and his players to make this dream a reality.