SOCCER
Packed house awaits as Peru face Morocco: possible starting XI’s
The game at the Civitas Metropolitano in Madrid is close to a sell-out with Monday’s incidents making all the headlines.
Despite the Tuesday night game in the Spanish capital only being a friendly game, an almost full-house at the home of LaLiga side Atletico Madrid will contribute to the atmosphere being that of a final. The full attention ahead the game was in danger of being derailed after Monday night’s incidents where Spanish police officers and some Peruvian national team players got into a fracas outside the central Madrid hotel with Peruvian keeper and captain Gallese detained after allegedly pushing an officer. The Orlando City player was detained through tp 05:00 (local time) and his participation in the game is in doubt.
Metropolitano party
As of Tuesday morning only a handful of tickets remain unsold with an almost full-house expected at the Estadio Metropolitano as both teams have large diaspora communities from both nations resident in Spain.
Both sides come into the contest on the back of different dynamics. Morocco were the surprise package at the 2022 World Cup in becoming the first ever African side to reach the semi-final after impressive wins against the likes of Spain and Portugal. Last Saturday in Tangiers, they showed that Qatar was no fluke as the outplayed Brazil for much of the 90 minutes in a friendly that they won 2-1. ‘La Bicolor’ on the other hand failed to trouble Germany who ran out comfortable winners in Mainz.
Changes for La Bicolor?
Peru coach Juan Reynoso is likely to make some changes to the side he fielded in Mainz. If 100 percent fit, Gianluca Lapadula is likely to start, while it remains to be seen whether Renato Tapia moves into midfield after the failed experiment of placing him as a sweeper in a five-man backline. It is not yet clear whether keeper Gallese will play after his brief detention on Monday.
Possible starting XI’s:
Morocco: Yassine Bono; Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Jawad El Yamiq, Roman Saiss: Noussair Mazraoui, Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri & Sofiane Boufal. Coach: Walid Regragui.
Perú: Pedro Gallese; Luis Advíncula; Miguel Araujo, Carlos Zambrano, Marcos López; Christofer Gonzales, Renato Tapia, Pedro Aquino, André Carrillo, Edison Flores & Gianluca Lapadula. Coach: Juan Máximo Reynoso.