Sporting Cristal suffered a 1-2 home defeat to FBC Melgar in a Peruvian Liga 1 encounter on February 9, 2026. In a significant result, the visiting side from Arequipa secured a valuable away victory against one of the traditional powerhouses at the Estadio Alberto Gallardo. Melgar took control of the match early, scoring twice in the first half to stun the home crowd. Cristal managed to pull a goal back after the break, setting up a tense finale, but Melgar's defense held firm to see out the win. This match result was a statement from FBC Melgar, demonstrating their capability to challenge for the top spots, while it served as an early setback for Sporting Cristal's campaign. The Cristal manager expressed disappointment with his team's slow start, while the Melgar coach hailed his players' tactical discipline and clinical finishing.