Juventud de Las Piedras
- Juventud have had a terrible Torneo Apertura 2026, sitting 16th in the Uruguayan Primera Division with 4 points from 8 matches.
- Álvaro Fuerte is the acting manager of Juventud after Sebastián Méndez was fired following a 2 - 1 defeat to Racing.
- Juventud are a structured team, that have more freedom to play with the football, but will always look to maintain the right balance between their lines, whether in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation.
- Martín Cáceres is a quality player and a true leader at the back, where Juventud need to settle down after conceding at least once in each of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Fernando Mimbacas is in form and provides a great focal point for the attacks, while Federico Barrandeguy has been in and out of the team but provides a good attacking outlet and has chipped in with some important goals this season.
Cienciano Cusco
- Cienciano have won four of their last five games across all competitions, including a penalty shoot-out victory over Melgar to enter the Copa Sudamericana Group B.
- Cienciano have scored at least twice in four of their last five matches and are coming into this tie in good form.
- 3rd place in the Liga 1 Apertura 2026 after nine matches, with 19 points from 27 available, the Cusco side are flying high in their domestic competition and should enter this match with greater confidence than their Uruguayan opponents.
- Horacio Melgarejo has got his side playing a high tempo style of football, where the ball is moved quickly and there is intense pressing to win it back.
- The team is very high on the ball and moves the game up with wingers getting forward and attacking the space behind the opponents’ full backs.
- In Matías Succar, Ademar Robles and Neri Bandiera, Melgarejo has a fantastic attacking trio, all of them in top form and ready to take advantage of a team that can be slow to get into a rhythm.
- Bandiera is in good touch, but Alejandro Hohberg is the creator and the main threat to opposition goalkeepers on set pieces.
- Gonzalo Falcón, Cienciano’s new Uruguayan goalkeeper, has settled in quickly and his experience and authority between the posts should help his team get through any difficult moments in this game.
Overview
In this week’s Copa Sudamericana Group B, Uruguay’s Juventud de Las Piedras and Peruvian outfit Cienciano Cusco will play for the first time in a CONMEBOL competition.
Cienciano
- In Matías Succar, Ademar Robles and Neri Bandiera, Melgarejo has a fantastic attacking trio, all of them in top form and ready to take advantage of a team that can be slow to get into a rhythm.
- Bandiera is in good touch, but Alejandro Hohberg is the creator and the main threat to opposition goalkeepers on set pieces.
- Gonzalo Falcón, Cienciano’s new Uruguayan goalkeeper, has settled in quickly and his experience and authority between the posts should help his team get through any difficult moments in this game.
Juventud
- Martín Cáceres is a quality player and a true leader at the back, where Juventud need to settle down after conceding at least once in each of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Fernando Mimbacas is in form and provides a great focal point for the attacks.
Betting Insights
- Cienciano are the slight favorites at 3.35 on the road, which looks about right considering the recent performances of both sides.
- Over 2.5 goals at 2.1 is an excellent price for this group stage game in the Copa Sudamericana that could be a thriller.
- We are expecting both teams to score at 1.83, which is also a good price given the attacking players on show and the fact that Cienciano have scored at least two goals in four of their last five.
Prediction
The match could be a real thriller with goals on both ends in the cards.
