Preview: Sporting Cristal vs. Rentistas - prediction, team news, lineups

Uruguayan outfit Rentistas travel to Peru on Wednesday to face Sporting Cristal in gameweek five of the Copa Libertadores group stages.

The home side cannot qualify out of Group E, however the team that finishes third in the group stage goes into the Copa Sudamericana, with Rentistas currently the team in that third spot.

Match preview

Sporting Cristal have not registered a win in this season's Copa Libertadores and sit at the foot of Group E, recording three defeats and one draw in the four games played so far.

In gameweek four Roberto Mosquera's side conceded two goals in as many minutes against Racing Club at the Estadio Nacional de Lima, with that result confirming the Peru side will not progress out of the group stages this season.

Cristal's league form has been more positive and they currently sit at the summit of the Primera Division, having won eight out of eight and scored 18 goals in the process.

Last time out Mosquera's side beat Sport Huancayo after goals from Nilson Loyola and Gerald Tavara secured a 2-0 victory, but striker Washington Corozo was shown two yellow cards in the late moments of that game.

Sporting Cristal have not progressed through the group stages of the Copa Libertadores in recent seasons but they are likely to qualify for the tournament again next season due to their dominance in their domestic league.

Rentistas have also not registered a victory in the Copa Libertadores this season, but in comparison to their opponents on Wednesday, the Uruguayan side have recorded three draws and one loss in Group E.

Martin Varini's side can still mathematically progress through the group stages but they will need to take maximum points from their remaining two games to finish in the top two.

Their last game in this tournament came against Sao Paulo, who opened the scoring through Luis Orejuela but the hosts equalised nine minutes later with a strike from centre-back Martin Gonzalez.

A new season in the Uruguayan Primera Division started on the weekend and Rentistas did not start the campaign well, as they fell to a 3-0 defeat to Fenix, despite the away side playing the last 25 minutes with 10 men.

The first meeting with these two sides in the Copa Libertadores this season ended in a goalless draw, even though the teams created 30 attempts on goal between them.

Team News

Despite being sent off in Sporting Cristal's last game, Corozo will be available for Wednesday's squad as he will serve his suspension in Cristal's next domestic game.

Percy Liza has been absent for Mosquera's side since being forced off in the reverse fixture of this tie two weeks ago, with the manager likely to name a similar starting 11 to the side that picked up the club's only point of the Copa Libertadores in that game.

Alejandro Hohberg has been the biggest threat in front of goal for Cristal this season, having netted four times in seven appearances, and he is likely to start in an attacking role, either down the middle of the pitch or in a wide position of a midfield three.

Rentistas have only managed two goals in their four Copa Libertadores games this season and that form in front of goal will need to turn around quickly if they want to progress through the group stages.

Salomon Rodriguez has led the line for the majority of Rentistas' Copa Libertadores campaign, but his first and last goal so far came back on the opening gameweek.

Sporting Cristal possible starting lineup:
Duarte; Loyola, Merlo, Gonzalez, Lora; Gonzales, Tavara; Corozo, Calcaterra, Hohberg; Avila

Rentistas possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Morales, Sosa, Fratta, Rodales; Paiva, Cristobal, Garcia; Perez, Rodriguez, Urretaviscaya

We say: Sporting Cristal 0-1 Rentistas

Rentistas can ensure a place in the Copa Sudamericana at least with a victory over Sporting Cristal on Wednesday, and three points will keep slim hopes alive of progressing through the group stages in the Copa Libertadores.

Cristal's campaign in this tournament is all but over and Rentistas should use this to their advantage to capitalise on a defeated Cristal side.

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