Colombia's Carlos Bacca (L) and Peru's Jefferson Farfán. (Photo : Reuters)
Copa America 2015 quarterfinalist Colombia is set to host the said tournament's bronze medal winners Peru at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia on Thursday, October 8 as one of the five games in the first matchday of the CONMEBOL 2018 World Cup Qualifying tournament.
The two teams are coming off a 1-1 international friendly draw last September 8 at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey in preparation for this fall's World Cup qualifying competitions, as per SkySports.
Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfán scored the equalizing penalty kick at the 89th minute to salvage the draw for Ricardo Gareca's boys after Colombian striker Carlos Bacca put José Pékerman's squad up 1-0 with a right-footed go ahead shot at the 37th, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Colombia will be playing without its superstar midfielder James Rodriguez, who is still nursing the knee injury he suffered in their friendly, and could also miss team captain Radamel Falcao, who is currently playing the Premier League and Champions League with English champions Chelsea.
Forward Jackson Martínez will be available, however, as the bruised tibia he obtained from the exhibition match has already healed.
Peru will again be led by their veteran striker and team captain Claudio Pizarro, who at 37 years old is still considered as one of the most dangerous attackers in Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.
It will be a close fight between these two teams but Bacca is currently playing well with three goals in five Serie A appearances for AC Milan so far and he is ready to carry over that momentum with his national team.
The predicted result is a 2-0 win for Colombia.
Colombia starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Ospina; Arias, Balanta, Murillo, Zapata; Sánchez, Guarín; Cuadrado, Martínez, Bacca; Gutierrez
Peru starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Gallese; Zambrano, Advíncula, Ascues, Vargas; Sánchez, Lobatón; Carrillo, Farfán, Cueva; Pizarro
