Peru vs Uruguay Preview, Prediction, Team News and Lineups

Peru will face Uruguay in a crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifier match on October 12th, 2024, at 01:00 UTC. After the loss against Ecuador, Peru will be looking to gather momentum and rise in the standings. Uruguay, on the other hand, will come into this game on the back of a 0-0 draw against Venezuela and will be aiming to continue their unbeaten run.

The match will take place at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru. This encounter is part of the 9th round of the South American qualifiers, with both teams vying for direct qualification to the World Cup in North America.

After eight rounds, Uruguay holds the third position with 15 points, closely trailing Columbia. Peru, however, finds itself in the last place with just 3 points, making this match vital for their campaign.

Peru vs Uruguay Head-to-Head Record

In their last 10 encounters, Uruguay has had the upper hand, securing 5 wins, while Peru managed 2 victories, and the other 3 matches ended in draws. Peru’s last win against Uruguay came on during a 2018 World Cup qualifier, where they edged Uruguay 1-0 in Lima. Uruguay has since remained dominant in the rivalry, winning their most recent fixture 1-0 in the 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Peru National Football Team News

Peru faces a challenge with the absence of several key players. Record cap holder Yoshimar Yotún remains out long-term due to injury, while midfielder Renato Tapia also picked up an injury late last month. Additionally, manager Jorge Fossati will have to deal with the absence of Miguel Trauco and Anderson Santamaria at the back.

In the attack, Peru will miss Gianluca Lapadula, Yordy Reyna, and Santiago Ormeño. As a result, 35-year-old Horacio Calcaterra has been recalled to the squad, making him the oldest member of the team for this match.

Manager Fossati will need to rely on his team’s depth and tactical discipline as they aim to neutralize Uruguay’s offensive threats.

Uruguay National Football Team News

Uruguay will be without some key players due to suspensions and injuries. Luis Suárez has retired, and manager Marcelo Bielsa is still dealing with the fallout from the sanctions handed out after the Copa America brawl. Rodrigo Bentancur will miss both games this month as he serves the second half of his four-game ban, while José María Giménez and Matías Olivera are serving the last of their three-game suspensions.

However, Darwin Núñez, who was initially handed a five-game ban, is available for this match after the Court of Arbitration for Sport temporarily suspended the penalty as they investigate the matter. Núñez’s availability provides a significant boost to Uruguay’s attacking options.

Defensively, Uruguay faces more challenges. Ronald Araújo is banned and injured, while Sebastián Cáceres and Lucas Olaza had to withdraw from the squad due to injuries. Bielsa will need to field a reshuffled defense but will still rely on Federico Valverde and Darwin Núñez to drive the team forward.

Peru possible starting lineup:

Gallesse (GK), M Araujo, Zambrano, Callens, Advincula, Cartagena, Calcaterra, Pena, Lopez, Valera, Flores

Uruguay possible starting lineup:

Rochet (GK), Nandez, Varela, Bueno, Saracchi, Valverde, Ugarte, De Arrascaeta, Pellistri, Nunez, M Araujo

Peru vs Uruguay Prediction

Uruguay enters this match as favorites, given their form and attacking depth. Peru will need to be resilient and look to exploit any defensive gaps Uruguay might leave. Expect a closely contested match, with Uruguay likely to come out on top with a 2-1 win.

What’s our predicted score?- Peru 1-2 Uruguay