Cienciano — Bolivar : Match Preview and Prediction for August 21,2025

Cienciano’s Uphill Battle: Facing an Arduous Task

The Peruvian side finds itself in a precarious position. The initial 2-0 defeat suffered in La Paz has handed them an incredibly challenging, almost insurmountable task. To progress in the competition, Cienciano now needs to secure a victory by a margin of three goals, a feat that appears highly improbable against their formidable opponent.

Struggling Form: A Worrying Trend

The current form of the team is a significant cause for alarm. Publicly available analytics highlight that Cienciano has managed to secure only a single win across their last nine fixtures. This patchy performance record is far from ideal for a team heading into such a critical playoff encounter.

Impact of Player Departures: Weakened Attack

Furthermore, the squad has been notably weakened by recent summer transfer activities. The departures of pivotal players like Christian Cueva and Gaspar Gentile have dealt a severe blow to the team’s offensive capabilities. The first leg vividly illustrated this deficiency: despite maintaining equal ball possession, Cienciano failed to create a single clear-cut scoring chance (xG 0.31), whereas Bolivar generated five such opportunities (xG 2.25).

Bolivar’s Strong Position: Dominant Form

The Bolivian squad enters the second leg with a commanding lead and in exceptional form. They boast an impressive unbeaten streak in 10 of their last 12 competitive matches across all tournaments. This momentum is further underscored by recent dominant victories, including a 5-0 thrashing of Real Tomayapo in the league and an aggregate 6-0 triumph over Palestino in the previous cup round.

Altitude Advantage Nullified: Bolivar’s Comfort in Cusco

Cienciano’s perceived key advantage – the high altitude of Cusco (3399 meters) – poses no significant challenge for Bolivar. Hailing from La Paz, the club is well-accustomed to competing in even more extreme conditions, with team representatives openly stating they feel ‘at home’ in Cusco. Consequently, the altitude factor, which might typically be a decisive element, is entirely negated in this fixture.

Tactical Approach: Pressing for Victory

The Bolivians have no intention of adopting a defensive posture. Both coach Flavio Robatto and goalkeeper Carlos Lampe have voiced their commitment to securing another victory. The comfortable 2-0 aggregate scoreline, however, affords them tactical flexibility, allowing them to patiently await errors from their opponents, who will be compelled to commit players forward, thereby creating exploitable spaces for counterattacks.