The Liga MX Apertura 2022 Tournament continues to age, and we are about to find out which four teams will remain alive in the championship and go to the semifinals.
In what was, we could say, a tribute to sports justice, the eight best teams in the general classification table advanced to the quarterfinals of the Fiesta Grande of Mexican soccer after 17 spectacular matchdays. Although there was one exception, the duels in this round showed parity in the level of the contenders.
The first leg matches were very entertaining, except for Cruz Azul vs. Monterrey. However, this weekend we expect spectacular duels with a lot of excitement; as they will be playing directly for survival in this tournament and to continue with hopes of becoming champions.
Now, here is the preview of the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Liga MX opening tournament.
Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Preview – Cruz Azul (0) vs. Monterrey (0) – Info
When: Saturday, October 15 at 07:06 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Cruz Azul +400 / Monterrey -144 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +285
Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz
The match that will kick off this matchday will be between Cruz Azul and Monterrey. Two teams reached these quarterfinals with a very good level of play. However, in the first leg, they showed a completely different face, with many offensive deficiencies and mistakes.
This match will be this Saturday, October 15, 2022, at BBVA Stadium, home of Monterrey.
For Monterrey, the first leg was as if they had not played it at all; since the goalless draw leaves everything at the mercy of what they can do at home.
So much so that, should this match ended with a draw again, it would give Monterrey the possibility of advancing to the semifinals; all thanks to the fact that they finished higher in the overall standings than Cruz Azul. A win, even a 1-0 victory, would make their qualification much more palatable.
On the other hand, Cruz Azul has the difficult task of getting positive results when they visit Monterrey. La Maquina has terrible memories of this very same tournament, where they lost to Monterrey with a score of 2-3.
After a goalless draw at the Azteca Stadium in the first leg of the Liguilla Quarterfinals, Cruz Azul must win against Monterrey in the second leg to avoid being eliminated from the tournament. It should be noted that the away goal criterion no longer exists in Liga MX.
That said, our pick for this match is a Monterrey victory with a score of 1-0.
Cruz Azul vs. Monterrey Betting Pick: Monterrey
Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Preview – Puebla (1) vs. América (6) – Info
When: Saturday, October 15 at 09:06 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Puebla +550 / América -214 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +370
Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz
The closing game of Saturday’s matchday will be in a series that is practically over, Puebla vs. América, which will be at the Azteca Stadium with Las Aguilas holding a 6-1 advantage on aggregate. The match will be this Saturday, October 15 at 09:06 pm ET.
América gave a brutal display of their excellent momentum, which translated into offensive power. It is almost impossible that they will have to resort to their better position in the general table, of which they were leaders, to advance to the Semifinals of the tournament; since, with a 5-goal advantage and playing at home, the chances of this happening are practically nil.
The equation is very simple for Fernando Ortíz’s team, a win or a draw by any score is enough to qualify for the semifinals of this Liguilla 2022.
On the other hand, Puebla, in addition to seeking an almost impossible result, must hold on to their faith, since anything can happen in soccer and even more so in Liga MX.
After finishing in eighth place in the general classification table, Puebla must win this match against América, a draw is not enough, that is, they must have a 6+ goal difference in their favor to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament.
Since this result is (highly) improbable and Puebla will have to leave defensive spaces to try to score as many goals as possible, our selection is a victory for América with a score of 4-2.
Puebla vs. América Betting Pick: América
Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Preview – Toluca (4) vs. Santos Laguna (3) – Info
When: Sunday, October 16 at 08:06 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Toluca +340 / Santos Laguna -131 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +295
Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz
The last day of these quarterfinals will start with the duel between Toluca and Santos Laguna, which will be this Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Corona Stadium, home of Santos Laguna at 08:06 pm ET.
It is worth remembering that the series reaches this second leg with an advantage for Toluca with a score of 4-3.
The Diablos Rojos managed to start the first leg with a 2-goal lead in the first 10 minutes of the match but were victims of a comeback by Santos, who went up 3-2. However, a fortuitous play just before the end of the match gave them a penalty that was later converted by Volpi to make the score 4-3.
A draw is enough for Toluca to advance to the next stage of this opening tournament, as a 0-1 defeat would leave the series level and, given Santos Laguna’s position in the overall standings, it would qualify for the semifinals.
On the other hand, Santos Laguna arrives at home with the firm conviction of demonstrating that they are true warriors in these defining instances after suffering a comeback.
This obliges them to look for a victory in this match, no matter what the score, to qualify for the semifinals. As we mentioned, La Comarca Lagunera has no use for a draw, let alone losing this match.
For this match, our selection is a victory for Santos Laguna with a score of 2-1.
Toluca vs. Santos Laguna Betting Pick: Santos Laguna
Liga MX: Liguilla Quarterfinals – Preview – Tigres UANL (1) vs. Pachuca (0) – Info
When: Sunday, October 16 at 10:06 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Tigres UANL +248 / Pachuca +108 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +255
Where Can I Watch it? Fox Sports / Fanatiz
Finally, the match that will bring the curtain down on these Liguilla quarterfinals will be between Tigres UANL and Pachuca, which will be this Sunday, October 16, 2022, at the Miguel Hidalgo “Huracán” Stadium at 10:06 pm ET.
With the series in their favor 1-0, Tigres UANL knows that they can go in search of a draw against Pachuca to qualify for the semifinals of this opening tournament. The Feline team has this advantage thanks to the goal scored by Frenchman André-Pierre Gignac through a penalty kick.
Tigres will try to become semifinalists in Liga MX for the second consecutive season after they were held back by Atlas, who would ultimately be the champion of the Clausura 2022.
On the other hand, we have Pachuca, a team that looked like they could get a draw at the Universitario Stadium, but now they must look for a victory, by any score, to seal their ticket to the semifinals.
One of Pachuca’s advantages for this match is that they have four consecutive victories at home, but the experience of Miguel Herrera and Gignac in the feline team could be decisive for this match.
It is worth remembering that the last result between these two teams at the Miguel Hidalgo Stadium was a 2-0 victory for the locals.
Likewise, we believe that Los Tuzos have everything in their favor to be the fourth semifinalist of the tournament, which is why our selection is a Pachuca victory with a score of 2-0.
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