Chivas (home)
- Chivas de Guadalajara arrive for this Liguilla first-leg in fine form, stringing together multiple wins in their last six to eight games, including a crucial 1 - 0 away victory at Pachuca to secure their 6th-placed qualification for this two-leg clash with Cruz Azul.
- Efraín Álvarez and Roberto Alvarado providing the creativity, experience and late runs to support breakout star Armando González up front.
- Armando González arguably the best forward in the league, having finished as joint top scorer of the 2025 Apertura with 12 goals.
- His Golden Boot-winning campaign will be a big part of this narrative and he could be the difference if Chivas are to get the better of Cruz Azul, who aren’t known for their solidity at the back - something crucial to keep in mind for any Cruz Azul vs CD Chivas de Guadalajara betting tips.
Cruz Azul (away)
- Nicolás Larcamón’s pragmatic but attack-minded style of play has clearly suited this Cruz Azul team, who finished 3rd in the 2025 Apertura.
- They’ve played in a back-three or 4-2-3-1 system this season and will look to counter their opponents in a variety of ways, using their wing-backs to provide width when in possession and flooding the midfield with numbers when out of it. This flexibility is often highlighted in the top Cruz Azul vs CD Chivas de Guadalajara betting tips.
- They’ve pressed high and pressed hard in recent games, with José Paradela pulling the strings in midfield and topping the assist charts.
- Ángel Sepúlveda has come in with a bang, scoring crucial goals and consistently creating danger from set-piece situations.
- Gabriel Fernández has offered consistent goals in the attacking third.
Head-to-Head
Cruz Azul have won each of the last three competitive H2Hs against Chivas (including a 2-1 away win at the Estadio Akron in August 2025) , as highlighted in our Cruz Azul vs CD Chivas de Guadalajara prediction.
Chivas
- Armando González - joint top scorer of the 2025 Apertura with 12 goals.
- Efraín Álvarez and Roberto Alvarado - provide creativity, experience and late runs to support the attack.
Cruz Azul
- José Paradela - pulling the strings in midfield and topping the assist charts.
- Ángel Sepúlveda - scoring crucial goals and creating danger from set-piece situations.
- Gabriel Fernández - offering consistent goals in the attacking third.
Betting Insights
- Cruz Azul are the slight favourites here at 1.92, with Chivas at 3.75 and the draw at 3.5. These odds should be considered when looking for Cruz Azul vs CD Chivas de Guadalajara betting tips.
- With superior head-to-head stats and a better overall record, Cruz Azul are rightly favourites for this first-leg, but with a late-season surge, Chivas have proven they can challenge the biggest names in Mexico.
- Both Teams To Score is a popular market at 1.71, and for good reason, with both teams boasting attacking talent and motivation for this game.
- Chivas will play their best football when they are patient, keeping the ball and controlling tempo.
- We expect to see a cagey first-leg, with both sides prioritising solidity at the back and tactical discipline.
Prediction
We’re expecting a classic contest between Chivas’ possession domination and Cruz Azul’s quick transitions , and we expect the midfield battles and width of the wingers to settle the result of this game. For the latest Cruz Azul vs CD Chivas de Guadalajara betting tips, keep an eye on lineup news and tactical adjustments.
