Mexico > Primera Division > Clausura 2019

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Puebla vs Cruz Azul

05 January 2019, 03:00 hrs (GMT 0)

Liga MX

Puebla
Last season, the team was stronger at home than away, and with only two losses at home, the team is looking to strengthen there to avoid the problems of relegation at the end of this season.

Puebla closed the last tournament irregularly, and most worrying was their defensive weakness, in three of the last five home games allowed at least two goals, yet could get good results against Toluca or Monterrey. With the arrival of Matias Alustiza, the team brings goals, and is a key player that the rival defenses will have to be careful.

The team kept coach Enrique Meza, with the aim of obtaining better long-term results and could give positive results, although this match could be too much for them, in the positive aspect is that the team is well rested, contrary to Cruz Azul that get to dispute the final. and that could lead to a more even match.

Cruz Azul
After losing the title in the final against the rival of the city and the most hated rival, the America, Cruz Azul intends to remain a serious contender for the title.

The strong team saw its executives reinforce them with important players, such as Orbelin Pineda, Jonathan Rodriguez and Yoshimar Yotun of Orlando City of MLS. Yotun made the headlines, but I think Jonathan "Cabecita" Rodriguez is the key player, he already knows Liga MX and last season was a key offensive player of Santos Laguna with 9 goals, a combination with Elias Hernandez is expected to give an explosive result.

The idea behind the reinforcements is to have more goal power, which was missing from Liguilla, in the last five games, Cruz Azul only scored twice and was left without goals in the series of two games against America in the final.

Prediction
The Puebla will focus on the defense and try to counterattack, even though we could not consider it as a game with few goals, could go quite fast to the other side, since Cruz Azul has a lot of goal power, but also has a good defense. A match that could be neutralized at times.

Cruz Azul focuses on this tournament, the second place of last season is in the rearview mirror and getting a victory with a great performance of the newcomers would be the key start of another important attempt for the title. To his credit is that in the last two games at the Cuauthemoc stadium, the team has not lost, winning the last in the MX Cup. Therefore, the value for this match is Cruz Azul with an -0.25 Asian Handicap.

Cruz Azul -0.25 AH with 7 units @1.98 at AsianOdds

Edited January 4, 2019 by Xcout

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20 hours ago, Xcout said:

Puebla vs Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul -0.25 AH with 7 units @1.98 at AsianOdds

Result:

Puebla 1 - 1 Cruz Azul 

- 3.5 units

Cruz Azul took the lead with a goal from Elias Hernandez, but allowed a penalty against to end the first half 1-1. In the second half Cruz Azul was unable to take the lead against, and was even close to losing. A point that feels like a defeat for Cruz Azul.

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Lobos BUAP vs Santos Laguna

06 January 2019, 22:00 hrs (GMT 0)

Liga MX

Lobos BUAP
While their main focus is to avoid relegation, the team made a fair tournament last season after having being relegated but able to maintain the division thanks to an administrative decision and a monetary payment. With a better performance than Veracruz the team has now a good ¨cushion¨ of points in relegation table but have to continue performing well.

Paco Palencia was maintained in the coaching position and that could yield good results, still they encounter a very dangerous team infront. At home the team won 14 of their 19 points.

With a core that has experience players like Francisco “Maza” Rodríguez, Leiton Jiménez, and Antonio “Toño” Rodríguez, they just need to avoid mistakes, as last season they allowed 25 goals in 17 games, a very high average if they intend to maintain the division.

Santos Laguna 
Playoff participant last season, but eliminated by Monterrey, the team is aiming for their second title in three season, having bowed out in the quarterfinals of the last Liguilla.

Yet in the offseason, the team made important changes, key playes like Jonathan ¨Cabecita¨ Rodríguez to Cruz Azul and Jesús Isijara and Osvaldo Martínez to Atlas. They bring Bryan Garnica from Atlas and Diego Valdés from Monarcas Morelia, Hugo Rodríguez from Pachuca, and forward Javier Correa from Colón in Argentina.

A risk trade-off that is part of their working schema to sell high and buy low, to remain a viable football club, the team brings quality players that have not perform a their high level, the idea is they will thrive in a better environment. 

The thing is that last season they relay too much on Jonathan ¨Cabecita" Rodriguez, and Julio Furch, it was a dual symbiosis, when one did not score, then the other would do it, now everything seems to be on Julio's Furch shoulders and the probable performance of the newcomers.

Prediction
A intense match, coming from different perspectives one trying to avoid relegation, the other looking for another shot  at the title. Both will like to open with a positive result this match that has been characterized by goals. At least one from each team should appear.

Due to Santos changes more than Lobos BUAP quality is that I anticipate a fairly even game and one that certainly shouldn’t be short on excitement. Two things are more probable that goals might be score, and that Santos despite the changes has the better change for the win.

Santos Laguna -0.25 AH with 6 units @ 2.18 at Unibet

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On 1/6/2019 at 2:47 PM, Xcout said:

Lobos BUAP vs Santos Laguna

Santos Laguna -0.25 AH with 6 units @ 2.18 at Unibet

Result:

Lobos BUAP 2 - 0 Santos Laguna

-6 units

An intense match with Lobos BUAP counterattacking and attentive to any mistake of Santos, which they did and from there scored the first, and the second one was an artistry goal. Santos was unable to fin any open spaces, the most was a shoo that hit the wood work. Santos is for a tight season, their image was awful. Santos GK did not look as he did last season. The worst result for Santos in the opener.

Season Accumulated: -9.5 units

Edited January 12, 2019 by Xcout

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Cruz Azul vs Chivas Guadalajara
January 13, 2019 02:00 hrs
Liga MX

Cruz Azul
Open the season with an unexpected draw against Puebla in Cuauthemoc Stadium, now they return to Azteca Stadium, where last season they went unbeaten before playoffs, with eight wins and one draw, and expect to bounce back to a positive result.

The midweek of the club was fill with rumors and lately the confirmation that Marcone, a key player of last season, left the club to play in South America. The exit was a clear outcome after missing to perform during the key moments of playoffs and with the arrival of offensive players together with the interest of another club, the logical conclusion happened. Newcomer Jonathan "Cabecita" Rodriguez is yet to score, and he for sure will do it soon, playing at home might be the key.

Cruz Azul Coach Caixinha, has not lost against coach Cardozo, in 5 games, with 3 wins and 2 draws in the match between them. Last season Cruz Azul victory in Akron Stadium, Chivas coach Cardozo was not appointed yet.

Chivas Guadalajara
Open the season in a great way, beating 2-0 Tijuana at home, with a great performance of their new reinforcements and good performance from players that were already on the team. Now goes to Azteca Stadium, last season the team had a fair performance at away, where  they only lost once, getting four wins and four draws. 

On midweek play against Cimarrones Sonora at away, and the team continue with apositive performance claiming a 1-2 victory in the Heroes of Nacozari Stadium to claim three points and take the lead in the group, the team use an alternative lineup and claim a positive result.

Match
The clash of the weekend, one of the matches that fill stadiums due to both teams fans.  Yet the match yields more draws than any other result. For Chivas it has been a hard  match only two wins in last 13 matches.

We have to keep in mind that 10 of the last 15 matches where Cruz Azul acted as home team against Chivas  ended in draws, still this will be the first match in Azteca Stadium in 19 years between them. The previous 10 matches in Azteca Stadium against Cruz Azul, Chivas only lost once, three draws  and winning six, still that was a long time ago.

Expect a very intense match, with the key being the middle field, however gets to generated the most scoring chances might get the match, with the arrivals Chivas has strengthen the middle field and it will be a level fight there.

Prediction
It has been a close match lately, and last match was the first one where both teams did not score after five games seeing goals from both teams. Now considering matches where Cruz Azul is home team seven of last eight have seen goals from both teams. Now returning to play at Azteca Stadium it might be different the result, but both have important offensive players and will try to win the match, therefore I do not expect them to nulify themselves and at least a goal from each team should appear.

Both Teams To Score - Yes with 7 units @ 2.15 at Sportingbet

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Tijuana vs Tigres UANL

January 13, 2019 04:00 hrs

Liga MX

Tijuana
9 games without victory, four of those at home. The team is not near of what it was at home. Open the season with an away defeat against Chivas Guadalajara, a bad start to coach Oscar Pareja tenure in Tijuana. 

Now the coach will see his debut at home against against one of the current strongets teams in Mexico. Key to this will be the performance of GK Gibran Lajud, who is expected to give  a better performance. 

The problem is the lack of goal, FW Martin Lucero failed to score for 15th straight match, to 911 minutes without goal, the options are Erick Torres, 1 goal in 665 minutes last season or untested Daniel Lopez. A lot of work for Oscar Pareja in that area.

Tigres U.A.N.L.
Only one defeat in last five matches, with two wins and two draws.  The team was close to playing the final last tournament, achieve playoffs qualification and in a high scoring double header against Pumas was thrown out.

A powerful attack leaded by Andre-Peirre Gignac, Javier Aquino aand Luis Quiñones, the team is sure to make the most of the scoring chances they get, being a huge test for Tijuana defense. 

The defense might be the most urgent struggle for Tigres, let two from Leon and against Pumas, their defense was no where to be seen. They urgently need to focus on this. At away is one of the aspect the team used to focus and then counterattack, I see them going back to this. Match

Prediction

Tijuana will try to revert their current form, still they faces a strong opposition, and being home the team is forced to look to dominate the match, something Tigres will take advantage of with a powerful counterattack.

Tigres only lost two away matches last season, being the third best away team only behind Chivas Guadalajara and Pumas UNAM, therefore I expect them to get something from this match. Together with the powerful attack, Tijuana is still adapting to the new coach and is lacking offensive power, and in that was is hard to get points.

Tigres -0.25 AH with 6 units @ 1.96 at Dafabet

[Xcout]

On 1/12/2019 at 4:48 PM, Xcout said:

Cruz Azul vs Chivas Guadalajara

Both Teams To Score - Yes with 7 units @ 2.15 at Sportingbet

Result:

Cruz Azul 0-1 Chivas Guadalajara

- 7 units

On 1/12/2019 at 7:32 PM, Xcout said:

Tijuana vs Tigres UANL

Tigres -0.25 AH with 6 units @ 1.96 at Dafabet

Result:

Tijuana 0 - 3 Tigres UANL

5.76 units

Season Accumulated:  -10.9 units

Edited April 9, 2020 by Xcout
Result of the matches

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Santos vs Morelia

January 14, 2019 01:00 hrs

Liga MX

Santos Laguna
A winless Santos Laguna, open the season the same as they close it without a win. Last season the team was able to get to playoffs despite three matches without winning. In the Quarterfinals encounter Monterrey, and while in the season they have beat them 1-0 at Nuevo Corona, Santos Laguna lost both matches without scoring.

And this season they open losing 2-0 against Lobos BUAP that barely provide them scoring chances, it took a lot of time for Julio Furch to have his first header.

Coming back home, the team is looking to improve from six matches without a win. The team  has only lost once at home in last five matches, and expect in his home opener to accomplish a good result, but it is hard to see how as the departures of Osvaldo Martinez, Jesus Isijara, Gerardo Alcoba and above all Jonathan "Cabecita" Rodriguez could be cover. There is a lot of work to be done by Brayan Garnica, Javier Correa and Diego Valdes.

Morelia
For Morelia things are not better, in Liga MX, two matches without victory, and missed last season playoffs. Open the season with a defeat against Toluca, which should have been more a draw. 

The team had a midweek match against Ascenso MX side Potros UAEM, where they claimed the win at  Heroes Nacozari Stadium. The team has recover goal, but their defensive is suffering as for seven consecutive match allowed at least a goal. The return of Any Polo is most welcome in the offensive side.

A pragmatic team that plays well for moments, and missed playoffs last season and is determined to qualify this time, just their squad is very limited. Miguel Sansores is the player to keep an eye on.

Prediction

A rather uncharacteristic match between two teams that are not in their best moment. A match where both teams could neutralized themselves.
This matchup has seen its fair of goals from both teams, with 10 of last 12 games seeing a goal from each team. Considering last five matches in Nuevo Corona, only the last one did not see goals from both teams. Therefore two teams in not their best moment, with not many offensive weapons, looks like they might score at least a goal, from there one anything can happen.

Both Teams To Score - Yes with 6 units @ 1.62 at 1xBet

[Xcout]

On 1/13/2019 at 4:41 PM, Xcout said:

Santos vs Morelia

Both Teams To Score - Yes with 6 units @ 1.62 at 1xBet

Result: Santos 1-0 Morelia

- 6 units

Season Result:  -16.9 units

Edited April 9, 2020 by Xcout
Result