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League leaders Cruz Azul will welcome second-placed Tigres UANL to Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in a top-of-the-table Liga MX Apertura clash on Saturday. Azul have a comfortable eight-point lead over Tigres, who can drop to third place if they suffer a defeat in this match.
La Máquina have 41 points from 16 games and need just one point to break the all-time record for most points in a 17-game season. Their winning streak in Liga MX was ended after eight games on Wednesday, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Atlas.
The visitors, meanwhile, extended their winning streak in the league to three games on Wednesday with a 2-1 home win over Toluca. André-Pierre Gignac broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, and Juan Brunetta doubled the lead in the 57th minute.
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Cruz Azul vs Tigres UANL Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have crossed paths 67 times in all competitions since 1997. They have contested these meetings closely, with the hosts having a narrow 27-23 lead in wins and 17 games ending in draws.
- They last met in the Clausura in February, and La Máquina registered a 1-0 home win.
- The hosts have scored 38 goals in 16 league games, 14 more than Los Auriazules. Azul also have the better defensive record, conceding three goals fewer (11).
- Azul are on a nine-game unbeaten streak at home in Liga MX, recording five consecutive wins. They have kept six clean sheets during that period.
- Tigres have lost just one of their last six away meetings against the league leaders, recording four wins while keeping four clean sheets.
- Four of the last six meetings between the two teams have produced under 2.5 goals, with both teams keeping two clean sheets.
Cruz Azul vs Tigres UANL Prediction
La Máquina head into the match on an eight-game unbeaten streak, recording seven wins while keeping five clean sheets. They have won seven of their last eight home games and are strong favorites.
Gabriel Fernández and Lorenzo Faravelli will miss this key match due to injuries but Gonzalo Piovi is back after serving a suspension last week.
Los Auriazules have registered three consecutive wins, scoring seven goals, and will look to continue that form here. They have lost three of their last five away games in Liga MX this season, failing to score in two.
Rafael Carioca was stretchered off against Toluca earlier this week and is not an option for this match. Rafael Guerrero remains sidelined with a fractured fibula.
La Máquina are assured of finishing at the top of the table and need just one point to break the league record for points in a single campaign. Considering their home advantage and goalscoring form, the league leaders are expected to record a comfortable win.
Prediction: Cruz Azul 2-1 Tigres UANL
Cruz Azul vs Tigres UANL Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Cruz Azul to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: First Team to Score - Cruz Azul
