- Sporting Cristal Lima have won three of their last four head-to-head Liga 1 games and are the strong favorites to beat Atletico Grau in this Sunday’s match.
- Sporting Cristal Lima have won both of their previous two home Liga 1 matches without conceding.
- Atletico Grau have failed to win either of their two away Liga 1 games vs Sporting Cristal Lima.
Paolo Autuori’s men to stay on the winning track at home
Our Sporting Cristal Lima vs Atletico Grau prediction holds strong with Sporting Cristal Lima as the heavy -212 favorites to open their Liga 1 – Apertura 2025 account against Atletico Grau on Sunday, and it’s hard to argue against them.
The hosts haven’t played a single game as yet in the new season, but their default position of 18th is vastly inferior to Atletico Grau’s of sixth.
While Paulo Autuori’s side have won only two of their past five matches in all competitions (Drawn 1, Lost 2), the Sporting Cristal Lima vs Atletico Grau preview reveals they have looked much improved since the head coach took charge on April 16, 2025. He has already implemented his structured, possession-first approach in Cristal’s two prior home games, where they kept clean sheets and won both fixtures.
His side will look to keep the ball and break teams down with their pacey attacking players such as Martin Cauteruccio, who has scored three of their seven goals in the last five matches. Joao Grimaldo is also a big star on their team and provides a technical spark to the side from midfield, but it’s Ignacio da Silva who has been holding the backline together and helping maintain recent home clean sheets.
Comizzo’s team will be a hard nut to crack
Atletico Grau are by no means a pushovers on the road, but will have to be at their very best to get anything from the game against such a formidable opponent. That’s why the Sporting Cristal Lima vs Atletico Grau betting tips suggest considering the strengths and weaknesses of both teams before placing a wager.
Like Sporting Cristal, Grau have also won just two of their five games in all competitions (Drawn 1, Lost 2), and snapped a 2-game losing skid with a home victory last time out. Angel Comizzo’s Grau have been a lot more solid since he took the helm on August 3rd, 2023, and he has really instilled a defensive tactical discipline and tenacity in the squad.
In Pedro Requena they have an excellent defensive midfielder who breaks up opposition attacks and sets up the play on transitions, while Raul Ruidiaz is a talisman up front, scoring two of Grau’s four goals in their current five-game spell. Joffre Escobar has made a few key contributions on the counter and looks the most dangerous player for the visitors.
Stalemate could ensue in a tough encounter
With two sides who are clearly not at their best at present, it’s a tricky one to call, but this Sporting Cristal Lima vs Atletico Grau prediction still goes with the odds-on favorite Sporting Cristal Lima to come out on top. They have a much better head-to-head record against Atletico Grau in recent times and they are heavy favourites for a reason.
The clash of styles could suit the home side, but Comizzo’s Grau will not let them have everything their own way, and neither did the 1-1 scoreline in the reverse of this fixture in Liga 1 – Clasura 2024 suggest that Sunday’s game will be an easy one for Sporting Cristal Lima. For those looking into Sporting Cristal Lima vs Atletico Grau odds, we’re predicting an exact score of 1-1 in a game that should favour the goal-line with over 2.5 goals priced at -142.
