Club Universitario de Deportes–Sporting Cristal rivalry

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Universitario–Sporting Cristal rivalry

Location: Lima, Peru

Teams: Sporting Cristal and Universitario

First meeting: 30 September 1956, Universitario 2–2 Cristal

Latest meeting: 26 July 2017, Cristal 1–1 Universitario

Total meetings: 203

Head-to-head record: Universitario 74 wins, Draws 65, Cristal 64

Biggest victories:
- Cristal 4–0 Universitario (1988, 2003, 2013)
- Universitario 4–0 Cristal (1989)

Primera División: Universitario 4–0 Cristal (1989)

Copa Libertadores / International competition: Universitario has appeared 38 times; Sporting Cristal 33 times

Why the rivalry matters:
- Both clubs are among Peru’s most successful, with a long history of top finishes since the league expanded in 1966.
- Derbies generate a lot of excitement due to the clubs’ stature and high-quality football.
- The feud is fueled by player moves between the teams, starting with Alberto Terry in 1959 and later stars like Héctor Chumpitaz, Eleazar Soria, Percy Rojas, Héctor Bailetti, Juan Carlos Oblitas, and Oswaldo Ramírez in 1977.
- Both clubs have large, loyal fan bases, and polls often place them at the top of Peruvian football favorites alongside Alianza Lima.