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

Racing Club face Sporting Cristal on Tuesday evening knowing that victory could put them on the brink of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores last 16.

While the home side have failed to win any of their opening three games in Group E, the Peruvian side know that maximum points will put them back into the mix.

Match preview

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In a group in which Racing are expected to finish in the top two, Juan Antonio Pizzi will have mixed feelings with one win and two draws being collected thus far.

Nevertheless, a goalless draw with Sao Paulo could potentially turn out to be a pivotal result in their bid to reach the knockout stages.

The result also ended a run of six matches in all competitions without keeping a clean sheet, a necessary improvement for a team who have struggled to score goals since the middle of March.

Racing's best results in recent weeks have come at home, and they head into this fixture having gone five away games without recording a win during normal time.

At a time when Racing find themselves down in seventh position in Argentina's top flight, Cristal are clear in first position of the Peruvian equivalent.

However, despite their dominance of the domestic scene, Cristal know that one more defeat will leave them on the verge of being eliminated from this competition.

Holding Rentistas to a goalless draw in their most recent game has given Roberto Mosquera's side something to work with, but they will have to improve significantly to threaten Racing and Sao Paulo.

Alejandro Hohberg has established himself as Cristal's key man this season, scoring four goals in his last seven appearances in all competitions.

Team News

Percy Liza is expected to miss out for Cristal after being forced off in the 22nd minute against Rentistas.

Jhon Marchan appears to be the most likely to replace him in attack, with Jesus Castillo an option in the centre of midfield.

Pizzi must decide whether to hand a recall to veteran Racing striker Dario Cvitanich, who replaced Ivan Maggi for the last half-hour of the Sao Paulo fixture.

Santiago Godoy could remain on the substitutes' bench, but highly-rated Anibal Moreno could be recalled in midfield.

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

Racing Club possible starting lineup:
Arias; Sigali, Dominguez, Novillo; Caceres, Miranda, Martinez, Mena; Piatti, Cvitanich, Lovera

We say: Sporting Cristal 1-2 Racing Club

While a lack of goals have been a problem for Cristal, they have an opportunity to put things right on Tuesday. However, the visitors are proving difficult to beat on this stage, and we expect a hard-fought win for the Argentine side.