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Each time it's getting closer for Alianza Lima to visit Universitario de Deportes, at the Monumental stadium, for the first leg in the great final of the Liga 1 Betsson, being the name of Cristian Benavente one of those who will not be present in the classic against the merengues, after Mauricio Larriera considered it opportune not to call him up for the Saturday night match, as Depor was able to find out.
As remembered, the 'Chaval' recovered from an injury that required him to undergo surgery and go through a long rehabilitation period, which prevented him from officially participating in the current season of the Peruvian championship.
Despite having received medical clearance at Alianza Lima, the lack of competition would have been one of the factors for which he will not be considered for the duel against Universitario de Deportes, at the colossus of Ate, even having shown remarkable physical improvement in the last training sessions at Matute.
Keep an eye on a detail, the absence of 'Chaval' in the first match of the Playoffs does not guarantee that he will miss the return match, so the national midfielder will try to do the impossible to earn a place in the main squad of the 'intimos' who hope to turn things around at Alejandro Villanueva.
This is how Alianza Lima arrives
After Universitario de Deportes' victory - which qualified the students for the Playoffs -, Alianza Lima made it official that the first clash will take place at the facilities of the Monumental stadium in Ate, this Saturday, November 4; while the rematch will take place at the Alejandro Villanueva stadium in Matute, next Wednesday 8th.
The blanquiazules obtained their ticket to the final after winning the 2023 Apertura Tournament, where they proved to be a true 'machine'. They obtained 14 victories and four defeats in 18 matches played. In this way, they achieved 42 points and took a seven-point lead over Sporting Cristal, the team that finished in second place. The 'intimos' were close to winning the Clausura (almost), but now they have the opportunity to achieve it against their classic rival.
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