Melgar Faces Major Setback Before Crucial Match Against Universitario

Arequipa, Peru — Melgar will be without key players when they face Universitario, one of their main rivals, in the eighth round of the Torneo Apertura. This matchup is anticipated to be the most important of the round. The team confirmed on Friday that head coach Fabián Bustos will not be present after being suspended, along with a crucial player from his lineup.

The disciplinary committee of the Peruvian Football Federation announced new sanctions related to Melgar’s previous match against Ayacucho FC, in which Melgar won 3-2. The match was marked by heated exchanges and unsportsmanlike conduct directed towards referee Diego Haro, leading to severe penalties. Horacio Orzán received a four-match suspension, while coach Diego Ospina faced an eight-match ban.

Though Melgar can appeal to reduce the sanctions, both Orzán and Ospina will certainly miss the crucial match against Universitario, an important clash as both teams vie for the top position in the league.

Melgar’s interim head coach, Ribonetto, must now find a suitable replacement for Orzán, who has been instrumental playing as a central defender in recent weeks. The absence of both the coach and the player poses a significant challenge for the team as they approach this pivotal fixture.

Meanwhile, on the management front, Fabián Bustos has reached an agreement to leave Melgar and take over at Olimpia in Paraguay, indicating a significant shift in leadership right before this critical stage of the Torneo Apertura. The Paraguayan club is set to pay Bustos’ release clause, an indication of their commitment to improving under his guidance.

As Melgar prepares for the Universitario match, the pressure to perform mounts as they aim to secure their position at the top of the league. The engineers of this upcoming strategy, including assistant coaches and players, will need to step up without the usual leadership on the sidelines.

In a further twist, Bustos’ departure marks the second abrupt coaching change for Universitario, following Jorge Fossati’s decision to coach the national team at the end of 2023. With both teams undergoing significant transitions, the matchup is expected to be a thrilling encounter as they search for stability amid the uncertainties.