Oriente Petrolero vs Real Tomayapo Preview

Saturday’s Bolivian Primera Division action sees sixth and eighth place clash in a battle for pole position in the race for a continental football qualifying spot, as Oriente Petrolero host a Real Tomayapo side on a handy unbeaten run.

The home side lie just one point behind the visitors, and with teams around them tripping each other over in the battle to progress, both sides know a win here could create some breathing between themselves and the chasing pack.

As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Key Statistics

• Oriente have lost just one of their seven meetings with Tomayapo since 2021.
• Oriente’s Christopher Rodriguez tops the red card standings in the league, having been sent for an early bath twice in just 10 games.
• Tomayapo also have discipline problems - midfielder Mijail Aviles has eight yellow cards, the joint most of any player this season.
• Tomayapo boast the third best defensive record in the league with their 14 goals conceded, with only Always Ready (12) and Nacional Potosi (10) bettering them.

Oriente Petrolero Preview

Oriente Petrolero Predicted Lineup (4-1-3-2): Jorge Arauz (GK); Vladimir Galvez, Gabriel Valverde, Alejandro Melean, Roberto Diez; Daniel Rojas; Ricardo Centurion, Franz Gonzales, Walter Chala; Jonathan Cristaldo, Kevin Salvatierra.

After a sluggish start, Oriente Petrolero have started to find their rhythm over the last month or so. No wins in their first six league fixtures of the season were cause for concern, but three wins from the last four has seen things become considerably rosier in and around the club.

Much of this improvement is down to a shift in formation - Petrolero began the season using a standard 4-4-2 formation, a set up which quite clearly didn’t get the best out of their players. However, a switch to the more attacking 4-1-3-2 has reaped immediate rewards, and suddenly, Oreinte are competing with title contenders, beating second placed The Strongest last month.

Though there is a lot of football left to be played, the signs are certainly improving. The will have to cope with the absence of Christopher Rodriguez, who was sent off in a defeat to Blooming last time out, but apart from that, coach Gualberto Olmos has a fully fit squad at his disposal.

Real Tomayapo Preview

Real Tomayapo Predicted Lineup (3-1-4-2): German Arauz (GK); Marvin Bejarano, Leandro Corulo, Jose Maria Carrasco; Mijail Aviles; Santiago Cuiza, Rai Lima, Danny Perez, Omar Siles; Mario Barbery, Denis Pinto.

Though they sit sixth, there are still issues that Tomayapo coach Humberto Viviani is yet to address this season, with the key problem being in attack.

In their 11 league games so far this season, Real Tomayapo have found the net on just 13 occasions, a goal record befitting of a bottom half side, and certainly not continental football contenders. While their excellent defensive record has mitigated this problem somewhat, goals win you titles, and while they are on a five game undefeated streak, four of them have been draws.

Their head to head record with Oriente makes for grim reading: Five losses and a draw in their last seven meetings. However, their most recent clash saw the visitors register their first ever win over their opponents, a dramatic 4-3 sealed in the 89th minute. The away side will be hoping for a similar scoreline here, if a little more comfortable.

Oriente Petrolero vs Real Tomayapo Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 21/12/2024: Tomayapo 4-3 Oriente.
• 21/09/2024: Oriente 4-2 Tomayapo.
• 13/08/2023: Oriente 2-0 Tomayapo.
• 12/03/2023: Tomayapo 1-1 Oriente.
• 15/08/2022: Oriente 3-0 Tomayapo.

Oriente Petrolero vs Real Tomayapo Betting Tip

Unbeaten in their last three home games, Oriente are becoming used to performing well in front of their fans, and with their form improving, they will be up for it from the very start of this game.

That is why our experts have decided that the best tip for this fixture is to back Oriente to lead at half time. Odds of 1.94 on Highbet mean that a £10 stake would return almost £20 should the bet come off.

Oriente vs Real Tomayapo Prediction

Oriente 1-0 Tomayapo

Tomayapo’s watertight defence will limit the damage, but with an underperforming front six, they will not be able to find a reply once Oriente take the lead.