Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna Predictions
Cruz Azul return to Estadio Cuauhtémoc on Sunday looking to build on a much-improved showing at Necaxa.
Santos Laguna finally collected their first point of the Apertura against Tigres last weekend, but their away record remains a major concern.
A home win with at least three goals scored should prove a solid choice this weekend.
La Maquina Can Punish Fragile Santos
- Cruz Azul won 5 of their last 8 matches (domestic fixtures)
- Cruz Azul have seen over 2.5 goals in 5 of their 6 matches (Liga MX)
- Cruz Azul won their last 4 matches against Santos Laguna
- Santos Laguna have seen over 2.5 goals in 7 of their last 9 matches against Cruz Azul
- Santos Laguna lost 5 of their last 6 matches (Liga MX)
- Santos Laguna have seen over 2.5 goals in 11 of their last 12 away matches (Liga MX)
Cruz Azul Hold the Recent H2H Advantage
Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna have met on 15 occasions since the start of 2020. Cruz Azul won seven of those matches, while Santos claimed four victories. Four games finished level.
Cruz Azul Return to Winning Ways
Cruz Azul come into Sunday’s Liga MX contest after an impressive 3-1 victory against Necaxa last weekend.
Angel Marquez opened the scoring before Nicolas Ibanez and Willer Ditta added second-half strikes to seal an excellent away win. Miguel Rodriguez’s late goal proved consolation only for the home side.
La Maquina were good value for the points in Aguascalientes. Joel Huiqui's side enjoyed 55% possession, outshot Necaxa 22-13 and posted an xG total of 1.79 against 0.44.
Before that much-needed win, Cruz had lost each of three previous fixtures. An inconsistent start to the season has seen the hosts win three and lose three of their first six Apertura fixtures.
High-scoring outcomes have been a regular occurrence for Joel Huiqui’s side. Only two of their last 12 matches finished with fewer than three goals scored. An average of 3.5 goals per game were scored in those 12 fixtures.
Santos Laguna Still Searching for First Liga MX Win
Santos Laguna make the trip to Puebla after holding Tigres to a goalless draw at Estadio Corona last weekend.
Both teams had their chances in an evenly balanced contest. Renato Paiva’s men registered 20 efforts on goal, but a final xG total of 1.15 illustrated their lack of quality in the forward areas.
The Warriors remain 17th in the Apertura standings with only one point collected from their first six matches. Santos lost their first five games of the season, conceding 11 goals in the process.
Winless in eight of their last nine matches, seven of those fixtures ended in defeat. Over a longer period, the Liga MX strugglers won just two of 14 competitive matches since April.
Particularly vulnerable on their travels, Laguna leaked exactly three goals in each of three previous away Liga MX defeats this season.
Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna Team News
Cruz Azul: (5-4-1) Kevin Mier; Omar Campos, Jesús Orozco, Amaury García, Willer Ditta, Rogelio González; Carlos Rodríguez, Jeremy Márquez, Agustín Palavecino, José Paradela; Nicolás Ibáñez
Cruz Azul boss Huiqui is likely to keep faith with the same side that started the 3-1 win at Necaxa.
The hosts have three expected injury absentees, with Gonzalo Piovi, Carlos Rotondi and Amaury Morales set to remain sidelined.
Nicolas Ibanez should continue as the central striker after scoring at Necaxa.
Huiqui felt his side deserved the win at Necaxa but still demanded more defensively.
“The team deserved to win. I would have liked not to concede.”
Santos Laguna: (3-4-1-2) Carlos Acevedo; Efraín Orona, Felipe Sánchez, Franco Pardo; Diego González, Aldo López, Kevin Palacios, Mauricio Cuevas; Fran Villalba; Ramiro Sordo, Ezequiel Bullaude
Santos boss Paiva has two players unavailable for the trip to Estadio Cuauhtemoc.
Long-term absentees Bruno Amione and Lucas Di Yorio remain sidelined for the visitors.
Ezequiel Bullaude and Ramiro Sordo are expected to lead the struggling Santos attack.
Paiva acknowledged the confidence problem inside his squad before the visit to Cruz Azul.
“We are in a phase of not winning matches; the group is sad because we cannot finish our moves and score.”