In what is to date arguably the biggest game of the regular season, Cruz Azul and Club América clash Saturday at the Estadio Azteca in Week 14 of Liga MX.
Generally, Cruz Azul has been a tough team to beat this season, but after losing 2-0 to Querétaro last week, Pedro Caixinha’s men were dethroned from the top of the league table. The team that moved into first place was none other than Club América, which took down Xolos de Tijuana quite comfortably by a score of 3-0 at the Estadio Azteca.
- Cruz Azul has gone 11 straight Liga MX games without a defeat at home.
- Three of the last five away games for Club América in Liga MX have gone UNDER the total.
- Club América has just one defeat in its last six Liga MX away games.
Cruz Azul vs Club América Game Center
A home game for both
At least logistically speaking, this will be a home game for Cruz Azul, who at the start of the season decided to move their home games from the storied Estadio Azul to south of the city into the Estadio Azteca.
The wild-card factor here is that the Estadio Azteca is also the home of Club América, and statistically this season, both teams have done wonders under the lights of the historic Mexican stadium. In fact, neither team has lost a game at the Estadio Azteca in this Apertura, and in the case of Cruz Azul, they have a perfect record of seven wins in seven matches.
As for who will be the home team in the stands? That’s just about anybody’s guess. Cruz Azul fans have been the more enthusiastic, but Club América fans show up in large numbers when it comes to big games like this one.
Statistically, Club América has the upper hand
And this is no doubt a big game, but it’s been one that has traditionally been dominated by Las Águilas. In addition to being Cruz Azul’s biggest rival, Club América has always been a sort of bogey team for the Cementeros. Currently, Cruz Azul has gone 10 straight games without a win vs América, with the last time the Cementeros getting a victory over their rivals being back in 2014.
Coincidentally, that year was also the last time Cruz Azul got a victory over América at the Estadio Azteca, going winless in six straight games vs Las Águilas in the “Coloso de Santa Úrsula.” If that wasn’t enough, they’ve also gone scoreless in three of their last four at the Azteca vs América, including a Liguilla quarterfinal game and a Round of 16 matchup in the Copa MX.
Clásicos are always of small margins and few goals
On the subject of goals, I’d imagine that given the magnitude of this match, both teams will play it safe, especially Cruz Azul. The Cementeros are known to be more of a defensive team under Pedro Caixinha, and at the moment boast of having the best defense in all of Liga MX with only 11 goals conceded this season. Furthermore, at home the Cementeros have been nearly impossible to score on. They’ve only conceded twice all season, while keeping a clean sheet in five of their seven games played at the Estadio Azteca.
Most recently, this game has been gold for UNDER bettors, as four of the last six head-to-head meetings between these two teams have ended in the UNDER, including three of their last four at the Estadio Azteca.
My pick...
With the Liguilla playoffs just a few weeks away, there is just too much on the line to think these two teams will go all out. Club América has already played two Clásicos this season at the Estadio Azteca, and both games ended in draws. I think they’ll play it safe here again and settle for a low-scoring draw.
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