All Eyes on Cruz Azul: Can They Finish What They Started?
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Cruz Azul enters the Liguilla as the top seed with 42 points and a +27 goal difference, displaying impressive balance in both defense and offense. Toluca, close behind with 38 points, is also a formidable contender. Led by top scorers Paulinho and Sepulveda, Cruz Azul and Toluca head into the quarterfinals as clear favorites. Both teams will take the field on Wednesday, while the preceding play-in games will determine the remaining quarterfinal matchups.
Just like in the NBA (lol), we have play-in games on Thursday night! Chivas will face off against city rivals Atlas, while Tijuana takes on the reigning champions, Club América.
In the Guadalajara derby, Chivas come in as the stronger side compared to Atlas. There’s no home-field advantage here since both teams share the same city, but Atlas’s recent form is a big concern—they haven’t won a game in their last five outings, relying heavily on draws (seven in total this season) to reach this stage. Chivas, on the other hand, have been tough to pin down, largely due to their inconsistency. Defensively, they’re solid, conceding only 15 goals all season (tied for third best), but they struggle to string together strong offensive performances.
In the other play-in match, Club América and Tijuana square off after similarly unpredictable seasons. Both teams have had their ups and downs, pulling off surprising wins but also losing games they were expected to win. Recently, Club América has shown better form, while Tijuana’s defense remains a weak point—they’ve kept a clean sheet in just 12% of their matches this season. With that kind of defensive record, it’s questionable whether Tijuana can contain América’s attack in this high-stakes matchup.
The losers of these matchups will then face off on Saturday, for one last chance, with the victor earning the final spot alongside the rest of the teams in the quarterfinals.
PREVIEWING MEXICO vs HONDURAS - THIS WON’T BE EASY!
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Champion Predictions
Compa Garrett’s Prediction: Tigres
Here’s Why: Tigres has all the ingredients to claim the Liga MX championship this season. Finishing third in the league with 34 points, Tigres boasts a well-rounded performance that includes 10 wins and a +10 goal difference. Their defense has been rock solid, conceding an average of only 0.88 goals per match, and their offense has been consistent, averaging 1.47 goals per game. And did I mention…they still have Mr. Liguilla himself! This balance between attack and defense makes them a formidable opponent. Their home form is particularly strong, with a 75% win rate and a recent win against Toluca, giving them a significant advantage when playing in their own stadium. With recent form showing three wins in their last five games, Tigres comes into the playoffs with momentum and consistency. If they maintain this level of performance, especially at home, Tigres has a strong chance of lifting the trophy this year.
Chris’ Prediction: Monterrey
Andre’s Prediction: Cruz Azul
@ BetLigaMX: Cruz Azul
CABRA LOCKS OF THE WEEK - Apertura 2024
Final Results
1st Place: Compa Garrett: 8-2, +10 units
2nd Place: Andre: 6-4, +7 units
3rd Place: Chris: 4-6, -1.9 units
4th Place: @BetLigaMX: 4-6, -7.4 units
Overall: 22-18, +7.7 Units
We made a profit this year, Compas!
THE COMPAS COMMUNITY IS LIVE ON DISCORD!
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