Morocco-Peru is a friendly and will be played on Tuesday at 21:30: likely formations, predictions, statistics, insights.
Morocco don’t want to stop dreaming. A little over three months after their incredible ride to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar – the first African selection to do so – Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions have achieved yet another great feat.
Yes, alright, it was just a friendly. But getting the better of Brazil, the national team with the most World Cups on its palmares of all, certainly does not happen every day. In an atmosphere of great celebration, an experimental Seleçao, led by an interim coach, had to bow 2-1 to Amrabat and his teammates, who, ten minutes from the end, put their noses back in front thanks to a goal from Sampdorian Sabiri. Before focusing on the forthcoming African Cup of Nations, where Morocco will be one of the main candidates for victory, Regragui and his men will face another international test. On the neutral pitch in Madrid – in Atletico’s stadium – they will face Peru, fresh from their friendly in Mainz with Germany. For Juan Reynoso’s South Americans, defeated 2-0 on German soil, it has been a decidedly tumultuous eve.
The only precedent dates back to 1970
On arriving in front of their hotel in the Spanish capital, the Peruvian players were literally ‘stormed’ by some 300 compatriots living in Madrid, eager to meet their favourites. Soon, however, a real fight broke out with the police, who intervened as soon as some fans lit smoke bombs. According to the police version, goalkeeper Welsh allegedly punched a policeman and was taken to the police station.
The Peruvian Carrillo
Turning to things on the pitch, Peru did not impress in the test against Germany, not even shooting once on goal. The ultra-defensive attitude decided by the new coach – who took over after failing to qualify for the World Cup – served little purpose. Los Incas have only lost two of their last eight matches against non-Comebol selections, but the last time they faced an African national team was in 2012. There was only one precedent against Morocco: in the 1970 World Cup, Cubillas’ Peru prevailed 3-0.
The Prediction
An interesting friendly between two selections experiencing diametrically opposite moments. In our opinion, Morocco will struggle more this time, facing a team that will mainly think about covering themselves and not conceding goals. It would not be a surprise if the total goals should be less than three.
Morocco-Peru’s likely line-up
- MOROcco (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Riad, Saiss, Amraoui; Zaroury, Amrabat, Salah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.
- PERU (4-4-2): Welsh; Advincula, Araujo, Abram, Trauco; Flores, Cartagena, Tapia, Yotun; Carrillo, Ruidiaz.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
