Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 15th round of the Clausura Liga MX will be played on Sunday at the "Ciudad de los Deportes" stadium, where local team America will host Cruz Azul. I suggest betting on goals in this encounter with a good odds.
Match Preview
Andre Jardine's team continues to set the pace in the championship race, confidently leading with 30 points and marching towards the coveted "tetracampeonato" — the fourth consecutive title. In the national championship, "Aguilas" remain a model of stability: the best goal difference (29:9), a rock-solid defense, and an impressive series at the "Azteca," where in 15 home matches, the "Eagles" have lost only once, and in nine instances, they did not concede at all.
But even the strongest armor can have cracks. The recent exit from the CONCACAF Champions League after losing to "Cruz Azul" (0:0 at home and 1:2 in the return leg) was a real blow. The reaction was swift — fans and the press are demanding changes, and the main target of criticism was veteran Nestor Araujo, whose mistakes cost the team dearly.
The "Blue Locomotive" is steaming ahead: the current Clausura is shaping up almost perfectly for Cruz Azul. The team is third in the table with 28 points, having lost only twice throughout the tournament, and their unbeaten streak has already reached seven matches. And as the cherry on top — the sensational thrashing of their arch-rival in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The "Celestes" have caught the momentum, along with their top scorer — Angel Sepulveda, who is tearing up the field. He already has 20 goals this season, including 6 in the Champions League and 4 in the Clausura. His recent brace against "America" only solidified his status as a defensive nightmare. Meanwhile, the team's away game is strictly pragmatic: in their last three away matches, they have not conceded at all, often sharing points.
Probable Lineups
- America: Cota - Rossano, Vasquez, Streaming, Espinoza - Portales, Arredondo - Aritaga, Ramirez, Villar – Salas
- Cruz Azul: Mier, Lira, Ditta, Orozco, Rivero, Romero, Faravelli, Rodriguez, Sanchez, Sepulveda Sanchez, Bogush
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Cruz Azul knocked America out of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, winning at home 2:1
- Last season, America defeated Cruz Azul away 4:3, but at home, it was a 0:0 draw
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet hit in 3 out of 5 matches
Prediction
Bookmakers favor America in this game, offering odds of 2.00 for the hosts' victory. We believe Cruz Azul is capable of tightening the game, and our bet is "Total under 2.5" at 1.83.
