Universitario de Deportes will not visit Piura to face Alianza Atlético or Atlético Grau in the 2026 Clausura Tournament. Both matches will take place in Trujillo because the local clubs did not obtain the necessary authorization to use their usual stadiums.
Initially, Universitario was set to play Alianza Atlético in Sullana, where the churre team usually plays at home. However, the match will be held at the Estadio Mansiche in Trujillo. The same situation applies to Atlético Grau, which attempted to move the game to the Estadio La Matanza but did not secure the required permits. “The ‘U’ will play against Sullana, in the remaining Clausura matches as visitors, and it will not be in Sullana, it will be in Trujillo,” stated journalist Gustavo Peralta.
This venue change is significant for the team led by Héctor Cúper, as Piura is known for its extreme weather conditions, which often pose an additional challenge for visiting teams. The reasons for avoiding that situation, although unrelated to the club, facilitate the logistical burden on the squad during a crucial stage of the season.
Despite the games not being played in Piura, they also cannot be moved to Lima due to the new regulations from the Peruvian Football Federation, which prohibits moving matches to the capital when the home team is based in the interior of the country. In this context, Trujillo emerges as the most viable option to host both encounters.
So far, the Peruvian Football Federation has not officially confirmed the stadiums for these commitments, although the Mansiche is expected to be the hosting venue, as it meets regulatory requirements and has previously been used as an alternate site.
Nonetheless, the venue change does not lessen the difficulty of the matches. Alianza Atlético and Atlético Grau are competitive teams in Liga 1 and represent challenging opponents for any title contender. Universitario, which needs to accumulate points in the remaining matches to contend for the four-time championship, will need to remain vigilant at all times.
Before these commitments, Universitario will have an important clash this Saturday, September 12, at 8:00 p.m. against Alianza Lima at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva. This classic comes at a time when both teams are competing for the championship lead, adding particular interest to the matchup. The broadcast will be through L1 MAX on Movistar TV and DSports.
Source: www.infobae.com
