The Liga MX Clausura has a duel of two title contenders on Matchday 8, as Club América will host Cruz Azul, a team off to an excellent start after a forgettable 2023.
The Eagles are coming off a surprising 2-2 draw at home to a struggling Mazatlán side.
The Maquina regained the lead after a 3-2 away win over León in the last game of the reprogrammed round 9.
When and Where?
Saturday, February 24, 8:00 pm ET at the Estadio Universitario
Moneyline odds:
América 1.59
Cruz Azul 5.2
Draw Offs:
4.1
Where Can I Watch?
TUDN, ViX, Univisión, and Fox Sports
Why Bet on América?
Club América is the reigning champion of Mexican soccer and has retained most of its roster, so it should repeat the level it showed last semester when it only lost one game in the first phase of the competition.
On the previous date, the Azulcremas couldn’t get three points at home and tied 2-2 with Mazatlán. As for them, it must be said that the unbeaten record they had in the semester was lost in the visit against Pachuca two matchdays ago.
Although América has not been a team with a high number of goals, on offense, they have players of national team quality, such as Chilean Diego Valdés, Colombian-Mexican Julián Quiñones, and Mexican striker Henry Martin.
In addition, this squad is very strong at home. They have four unbeaten games and have only lost once in their last ten matches, with the sole defeat against Atlético San Luis in a Liguilla series decided in the first leg.
Another fact in América’s favor is that in 2023, they beat Cruz Azul in both matches, scoring six goals.
The Águilas have Richard Sánchez and Sebastián Cáceres injured, while Henry Martin will be available for the match.
Why Bet on Cruz Azul?
The ghosts of the disastrous semesters of 2023 are in the past. Cruz Azul is at an excellent level, has hit the mark with the reinforcements it has acquired, and is fighting to be the best club in the Liga MX.
Led by Uriel Antuna, they beat León 3-2 to maintain their lead with 19 points.
Although they started the league with a defeat, the Máquina Cementera has not been on the losing side. On the contrary, they have a seven-match unbeaten streak and obtained a transcendental victory with a 1-0 over Tigres two dates ago.
The arrival of goalkeeper Kevin Mier has given security to the defensive system, while the offense has been improving to reach its current 13 goals.
For now, Uriel Antuna has been their most outstanding player, with three goals and two assists. Gabriel El Toro Fernández and Ángel Sepúlveda have also scored twice.
For coach Martín Anselmi, this is a good opportunity to show the level of his team, which has not beaten this classic rival as visitors since 2020.
Unfortunately, El Toro Fernández is the most important casualty of the team and will not be able to play again this semester due to injury, but the Máquina will be able to count on defender Willer Ditta, who has already served his suspension.
Final Betting Analysis: América vs. Cruz Azul
The last time these teams from the capital met, the victory went to the Águilas by 3-2. Still in the memory is the 7-0 given by the Azulcremas to their rivals of El Clásico Joven not long ago, so the Cementeros need to win derbies again and leave that in the past.
The numbers at Gambyl Exchange have América as the favorite. The Moneyline for them shows 1.59, while Cruz Azul has 5.2, and the draw is at 4.1.
There is no doubt this match can define the mood of these two teams to face the semester. Cruz Azul is superior at the moment, no doubt, but they’ll have it hard to win in a matchup that has been difficult for them in recent memory. We’ll go for a 1-1 tie.
Go for a Draw. If you bet $100 at 4.1, you will gain $310 for a total payout of $410.
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