Sunday brings together Cristal, Cienciano and Brazilians in the Copa do Brasil
This Sunday, 2 August, the South American and European football calendar gives nobody a break. Between Peru’s Liga 1, Liga 2, heavyweight friendlies and decisive rounds in Argentina and Brazil, the schedule offers plenty of reasons to follow closely – including keeping an eye on the Peruvians playing abroad.
Sporting Cristal have already won, Cienciano face Universitario in the evening
The round of the Peruvian Clausura tournament opened with Sporting Cristal beating Juan Pablo II 2-0, a result that underlines the celeste club’s good run. Important fixtures still lie ahead: ADT take on Deportivo Garcilaso at 13:15, while CD Moquegua host Melgar at 15:30. The main course, though, comes at 18:30, when Cienciano face Universitario de Deportes in a match that could shake up the table.
In Liga 2, Bentín Tacna Heroica have already banked three points against Ayacucho FC with a 2-0 win. Two games remain scheduled: Carlos A. Mannucci against ADA Jaén at 15:00, and Estudiantil CNI versus Deportivo Binacional at 15:30, both shown on the Bicolor channel on YouTube.
Peruvians abroad: Noriega, Carrillo, López and Sonne in focus
International interest revolves around four names carrying the Peruvian flag away from home. Erick Noriega could get minutes for Grêmio, who face Mirassol at 16:00 in the Copa do Brasil. André Carrillo, meanwhile, is trying to earn a place at Corinthians, who visit Internacional at 17:30 in another head-to-head in the national competition.
In Denmark, Marcos López’s match is already over: Copenhagen beat Silkeborg IF 3-1. Oliver Sonne, meanwhile, takes the field for Burnley, who lost 1-0 to Torino in a pre-season friendly – a result that serves more as a gauge than as a real worry at this point of the European calendar.
Heavyweight friendlies and Argentine classics complete the schedule
Outside South America, attention falls on Liverpool and Leeds United, who meet at 15:00 in another pre-season test for the English sides. Before that, results such as Feyenoord 2-1 Atalanta and Galatasaray 3-3 Rennes have already shown that European teams are still fine-tuning for the new season.
In Argentina the day promises genuine drama: Newell’s Old Boys host Boca Juniors at 15:00, and soon after River Plate face Barracas Central at 17:15 – the latter having already beaten Deportivo Riestra 1-0 earlier. The leagues of Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela round out the round, making it a Sunday with practically no pause for anyone following football in the Americas.
