Cruz Azul have an opportunity to end the Apertura campaign on a positive note when they host Puebla on Sunday at Estadio Azteca.
La Maquina are 16th in the Liga MX table following a 1-0 defeat at Chivas in their previous domestic encounter, while Los Camoteros need a win to have any hope of making the Apertura play-in round, currently a point behind Santos Laguna after a dramatic 5-4 victory at home versus Club Leon.
Match preview
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It has been a domestic campaign full of turmoil for Cruz Azul, with rumoured tensions between coaches and management and plenty of distractions off the field.
Those supposed issues led to the dismissal of Ricardo Ferretti in early August as this team was in a tailspin throughout the first half of the Liga MX season, claiming just a single point from their first five games.
Former midfielder Joaquin Moreno has salvaged a little pride in this historic club of late, though, with the new Cruz Azul manager winning two of his previous three league fixtures in charge, including consecutive clean sheets at home.
Even if they were to triumph in their final encounter of the Apertura though, Los Celestes would still finish with a mere 20 points, their lowest total in the first half of a domestic campaign since claiming 19 in 2016-17.
During the 2023-24 Apertura campaign, Cruz Azul were in a winning position at the interval four times, failing to emerge victorious in each of those instances, and those 11 points dropped could have put them in the final phase of this competition.
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It was a rough beginning to the new Liga MX season for Puebla, who had just one point from their opening five fixtures, though they have picked it up since the end of October, unbeaten in three successive league games.
Defensively Puebla were a mess in the 2022-23 Clausura season, tied for the third-most goals conceded (32), and it has not been much better so far this year, having allowed multiple strikes in seven domestic encounters and allowing two more goals when compared to their previous Apertura campaign.
Ricardo Carbajal has seen his side squander six points when scoring first in this competition, conceding an equalising goal twice in stoppage time.
With a victory on Sunday, though, they can match their points total in the Apertura from a season ago, as Puebla are currently on 19 points.
La Franja have picked up 12 of their 19 points this season away from home and are unbeaten in their previous five road contests in this competition.
Team News
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Cristian Jimenez is doubtful for Cruz Azul this weekend because of an ankle injury, while we saw one new face in their starting 11 from matchday 15 to 16 as Alexis Gutierrez came into the lineup replacing Carlos Rotondi.
Andres Gudino has collected back-to-back clean sheets for them at home, while Angel Sepulveda had the winner in their previous triumph over Juarez (2-0) when Uriel Antuna collected a goal and an assist.
Carlos Rodriguez had two goal involvements in their previous league fixture versus Puebla, scoring the opener in a 3-1 triumph when former defender Julio Cesar Dominguez and current Nacional striker Gonzalo Carneiro found the back of the net.
Facundo Waller will not be available for Puebla on Sunday because of a muscle injury, and we saw the same starting 11 for them in their previous encounter, with Gabriel Carabajal being the only newcomer to feature, replacing Pablo Gonzalez in the second half of their last match.
Guillermo Martinez picked up a hat trick in their victory over Leon, putting him at nine goals domestically this season, two behind Harold Preciado for the league lead, while Diego de Buen and Miguel Sansores also netted in that wild finish.
Former winger Jordi Cortizo put them ahead in their previous visit at Cruz Azul last season, while current forward Martin Barragan netted just before the half-hour mark, enabling his side to earn a 2-2 draw.
Cruz Azul possible starting lineup:
Gudino; Rivero, Salcedo, Ditta, Escobar; Huescas, Castano, Rotondi; Antuna, Sepulveda, Morales
Puebla possible starting lineup:
Rodriguez; Ferrareis, Olmedo, Silva, Angulo; Velasco, Carabajal, De Buen, Alvarez; Barragan, Martinez
We say: Cruz Azul 1-1 Puebla
Puebla are not as strong in the attacking third as their previous result might suggest, and we expect to see an even match with two sides who have failed to find much consistency this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
