Tigre host Alianza Atlético at Estadio José Dellagiovanna on 29 May 2026 in the final Group A match of the Copa Sudamericana, with the Argentine side knowing only a win keeps their knockout stage hopes alive while their Peruvian opponents have nothing left to play for after five winless group games. The sides drew 1-1 in Peru back in April and Tigre currently sit third with six points, trailing Macará and América de Cali.
Diego Dabove has been in charge at Tigre since 2025 and has built a more structured, possession based side, whereas Federico Urciuoli, who took over Alianza Atlético at the start of 2026, set up a side that defends deep and looks to keep it tight for 90 minutes and the two managers have never faced each other.
Tigre arrive unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions (D L W D D D), with a continental sequence of D L W D D that includes a 1-1 draw away to América de Cali keeping qualification faintly in sight and they have shown more attacking intent at home than on the road. Alianza Atlético's form is patchier: W L L W D D in domestic football but winless in the Sudamericana after D L L L D, their away displays relying on defensive organisation and not much else going forward.
Tigre are without Simón Rivero and Santiago Giménez, both sidelined by long term knee injuries with no appearances between them this season, though Dabove has no suspensions to worry about and can pick from a settled squad. Alianza are sweating on Ariel Muñoz, forced off injured in their most recent domestic match, while Hernán Lupu is available after scoring in the league.
Both teams are expected to line up in 4-4-2 variations, with Tigre starting Felipe Zenobio in goal behind a back four of Valentín Moreno, Alan Barrionuevo, Ramón Arias and Alvarez, Jabes Saralegui, Bruno Leyes and Elías Cabrera through the middle and José David Romero alongside Ignacio Russo up front. Alianza Atlético are likely to go with Daniel Prieto between the sticks, Erick Perleche, José Villegas Luján and Anthony Gordillo at the back, Germán Díaz, Hernán Lupu and Jimmy Pérez in midfield and Valentín Robaldo alongside Franco Coronel in attack.
At home in continental matches Tigre look to control proceedings through midfield, where Bruno Leyes is the defensive anchor while Saralegui and Cabrera push forward to create for Romero and Russo. Alianza counter with a compact shape that puts defensive organisation first and their back four of Villegas Luján, Gordillo and Perleche will need to handle Tigre's overlapping full backs for the full 90 minutes. The midfield contest between Leyes, Saralegui and Cabrera on one side and Lupu, Díaz and Pérez on the other is the crux of it: either Tigre break lines and get the goal they desperately need, or Alianza absorb the pressure and spring Coronel and Robaldo on the break. The sides have only the one previous meeting to reference, the 1-1 draw in Peru in April, so neither camp has much of a tactical blueprint to work from.
Tigre have scored from set pieces at home in this group stage, with Cabrera delivering and Barrionuevo and Arias attacking the ball and Alianza defend dead balls in a compact zonal structure but have already conceded from set pieces in this group stage, which matters when Tigre are hunting a win they cannot afford not to get.
Tigre 1-1 Alianza Atlético. Tigre have taken four points from their three home group games and need only a win here but they have drawn their last two continental fixtures and shown a tendency to control without converting. Alianza have kept the scoreline tight throughout the group stage and a Romero or Russo goal is entirely plausible, though a Coronel or Robaldo counter feels just as likely, making another 1-1 the most probable outcome. That would end Tigre's Copa Sudamericana campaign in the group stage.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
