Tigres UANL and Monterrey clash for the first time this year as the rivals meet Saturday in another edition of the Clásico Regiomontano. There is no question about it, these are currently the two best teams in Mexico facing off in what many are predicting could be a preview of the 2019 Liga MX Clausura final.
At the moment, it’s Tigres who lead the way at the top of the league table with 22 points and arrive on the back of 3-0 thumping over Pachuca. But just a point behind the Felinos are rivals Monterrey. Diego Alonso’s men have arguably one of the best squads in all of Mexico and come into this match after defeating Chivas 2-0 at the Estadio Akron.
- Three of the last four head-to-head meetings between these two teams have been draws.
- Each of Monterrey’s last four games across all competitions has finished in the UNDER.
- Tigres UANL’s last four away matches have finished in the UNDER.
Monterrey vs Tigres UANL Game Center
Tigres are on fire
Tigres are red-hot. Apart from Club León, there probably isn’t a hotter team in Mexico right now than the Felinos. Known for their slow starts, Tigres have broken away from past traditions and enter this match on a run of six straight Liga MX victories. Their last defeat was at home against Cruz Azul back in Week 3, in what served as something of a wake-up call for the northern Mexican side.
In that span of six straight victories, Tigres have kept a clean sheet in four, three of which came away from the Estadio Universitario. In fact, Tigres are tied with Club León as the best defense in Liga MX with only six goals conceded. And if that weren’t enough, they’ve managed to score two or more goals in four of those six victories, making them one of the more efficient sides in Mexico in recent weeks.
Monterrey remains unbeaten
Monterrey’s numbers don’t immediately pop out like those of Tigres, but they are the only undefeated team remaining in the 2019 Liga MX Clausura. Perhaps the most important point to make with Monterrey is that they are a team with extreme depth. We are talking about a team that has its focus on winning everything this year and has the team to do so. Including CONCACAF Champions League, Monterrey has gone 11 straight games without a defeat, and like rival Tigres, their defense has featured prominently. Across all competitions, Monterrey has been able to keep a clean sheet in five of its last six.
That said, Monterrey has shown some worrying signs recently. They needed a last-minute Sportsbook to beat a woeful Monarcas Morelia side, and in what on paper should have been an easy win for Rayados, they struggled to beat El Salvador side Alianza in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Clásico Regio trends
What does recent history say about the Clásico Regiomontano? For starters, the edge has to go to Tigres. Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti’s men have been less on the losing side than their Regio counterparts, losing just once in their last seven meetings vs los Rayados. However, most recently, draws have been a constant, with three of the last four ending in stalemates.
The Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Monterrey’s home ground and setting for this particular match, has also been a profitable bet for Tigres. In the last five clashes between these two teams in said stadium, Tigres have managed to go unbeaten in four, including three wins.
Finally, when it comes to OVER/UNDER betting, the only real trend is in the UNDER, as four of the last six head-to-head meetings have finished in the UNDER.
My take on the game...
This game seems too close to call. While it would be easy to go with recent history and take Tigres for the win, it looks like it is shaping up to be closer to a stalemate. These are two very good teams that won’t want to risk too much in a high-pressure game.
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