Alianza Lima beat Alianza Atlético 3-1 at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva on Saturday to move to the top of the Liga 1 2026 Clausura Tournament table. Eryc Castillo scored twice and Jairo Vélez sealed the result late on, as Pablo Guede’s side bounced back from a 2-2 draw at Comerciantes Unidos in their previous outing.
Alianza Atlético, who arrived in Lima on the back of a 3-1 win over Los Chankas, threatened at times but could not hold on after conceding twice in the second half. A red card for Williams Guzmán in the 56th minute left them with ten men and ultimately ended their chances of taking a point.
Castillo breaks the deadlock
Alianza Lima controlled the opening stages, pushing Atlético deep into their own half within the first ten minutes. The home side converted that pressure into a goal in the 13th minute when Vélez delivered a pass into the area and Castillo finished to give the hosts the lead.
Alianza Atlético responded and created several chances of their own. In the 15th minute goalkeeper Alejandro Duarte produced a notable save to deny Hernán Lupú. The visitors continued to press and were unlucky not to level sooner. Alianza Lima thought they had doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute when Paolo Guerrero put the ball in the net, but an offside flag against Castillo in the build-up ruled the effort out.
Atlético drew level in the 27th minute through a set piece. Penilla struck a free kick that Duarte could only parry, and Ingratti converted the rebound to make it 1-1. Guerrero was booked in the 31st minute as Alianza Lima grew frustrated. Vélez came close twice before the interval, forcing a strong save from Atlético goalkeeper Steven Rivadeneyra in the 37th minute and striking the post with a shot in the 42nd. The sides went in level after three minutes of added time.
Castillo puts Lima back in front
Alianza Lima needed only six minutes of the second half to retake the lead. Fernando Gaibor’s shot was blocked, but Castillo reacted quickly to the rebound and converted from close range in the 51st minute to make it 2-1.
Alianza Atlético came close to equalizing immediately, striking the post twice in quick succession in the 55th minute. Any hope of a leveller disappeared a minute later when Guzmán was sent off after fouling Castillo near the visitors’ area, leaving Atlético with ten men for the final third of the game.
Federico Girotti had the chance to extend the lead in the 61st minute but could not find the right finish. Guerrero was withdrawn in the 70th minute, replaced by Alan Cantero, who came close to scoring within five minutes of his introduction.
Vélez finishes the job
The third goal arrived in the 78th minute and ended the contest. Cantero picked out Vélez with a well-timed pass, and Vélez finished to make it 3-1. Ariel Muñoz picked up a yellow card for Atlético two minutes later as the visitors’ frustration showed.
Alianza Atlético made three changes in the 83rd minute as Francesco Flores, Jimmy Pérez and Jose Luján entered in place of Penilla, Ingratti and Germán Díaz. Castillo was substituted off in the 84th minute with the result secured. Jesús Castillo and Nicolás Díaz came on for Alianza Lima in stoppage time, and two additional minutes were played before the final whistle confirmed the 3-1 home win.
The victory moves Alianza Lima to the top of the Clausura standings. Alianza Atlético had won the most recent previous meeting between the sides, a Copa de la Liga 2026 fixture, by 2-1.
Match details
Alianza Lima started with Duarte; Advíncula, Garcés, Antoni and Huamán in defence; Pavez, Gaibor and Vélez in midfield; and Castillo, Guerrero and Girotti in attack. Atlético lined up with Rivadeneyra; Perleche, Guzmán, Suárez and Gordillo in defence; Lupú, Díaz and del Castillo in midfield; and Larios, Penilla and Ingratti in attack. Kevin Quevedo, Luis Ramos and Piero Cari were absent from the Alianza Lima squad.
Michael Espinoza was the principal referee, assisted by Albert Alarcón and Sergio Arana, with VAR duties handled by Milagros Arruela. The Estadio Alejandro Villanueva holds more than 33,000 spectators.
