Cienciano, a team from Cusco, has demonstrated strong performance throughout the Apertura Tournament and extended this success into the Copa Sudamericana competition. Manager Horacio Melgarejo has expressed his ambition to qualify for the Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club tournament. The team intends to achieve this qualification not through winning the current tournament, but by accumulating enough points in Liga 1 – Peru’s top-flight football league – to secure a spot via the accumulated season table. Melgarejo is credited with fostering the team’s positive momentum. This strategy highlights a focus on consistent performance over the entire Liga 1 season. The club believes a strong showing in the league will be key to continental competition.