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Cruz Azul will entertain Pachuca at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in their 2023-24 Liga MX Apertura campaign opener on Saturday.
The Azteca Stadium is undergoing renovations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, so reigning champions Club America and Cruz Azul will both play their games at Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium, which is also known as Estadio Azul.
The hosts finished 16th in the Apertura standings, suffering back-to-back defeats in their last two games of the campaign. They'll look to enjoy a better run in the Clausura and get their campaign off to a winning start.
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The visitors missed out on qualification into the final phase of Apertura on goal difference, finishing 11th in the standings. They had seen a late resurgence in form, recording three wins in their last five games. They signed off for the campaign with a 3-2 away win over Tijuana, with Érick Sánchez scoring a second-half hat-trick.
Cruz Azul vs Pachuca Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have crossed paths 64 times in all competitions since 1996. They have contested these games closely, with the hosts having a narrow 28-23 lead in wins and 13 games ending in draws.
- Eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams have produced under 2.5 goals.
- They last met in the Apertura phase last August, with Pachuca recording a 1-0 home win. They have been the better side in recent meetings against the capital club, with three wins in four games since March 2022.
- After recording six wins on the trot at home against the visitors between 2016 and 2021, Cruz Azul are winless in their last two home meetings, including a 2-0 loss in the Apertura in 2022.
- The visitors have recorded back-to-back wins in their last three away games, keeping two clean sheets.
Cruz Azul vs Pachuca Prediction
La Máquina had seen a drop in form in the final stages of the Apertura, losing four of their last six games. They had not fared any better at home, losing four of their last six games as well. They have just one win in their last five meetings against the visitors, suffering three defeats, and might struggle here.
Martín Anselmi will take charge of his first official game for the capital club. He received a big blow ahead of the campaign opener as captain Juan Escobar is set to leave the club following a disagreement between the two.
Los Tuzos concluded their Apertura campaign on a better note than the hosts, with three wins in their last five games. They narrowly missed out on qualification for the final phase and will look to improve upon that record in the Clausura. They have won three of their last four meetings against the hosts, keeping two clean sheets, and will look to build on that form.
New signing Salomón Rondón has trained with the squad ahead of the campaign opener and is set to lead the lineup for head coach Guillermo Almada.
Both teams are set to play after a lengthy break and take to the pitch with new reinforcements. With that in mind, we expect them to settle for a low-scoring draw.
Prediction: Cruz Azul 1-1 Pachuca
Cruz Azul vs Pachuca Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Draw
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least a goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Uriel Antuna to score or assist any time - Yes
