Cruz Azul (home)
- Cruz Azul are in excellent form and are the clear favourites to beat CF Atlas Guadalajara when the two sides clash at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Wednesday.
- Nicolás Larcamón’s influence on the team has been profound and his team’s games have all the hallmarks of his usual high-pressing, high-possession teams.
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Recent stats:
- Cruz Azul have won 11 of their last 21 games (D8, L2) and average 1.76 goals per game across all competitions.
Atlas (away)
- They will come at Atlas, who are still trying to rebuild the defensive foundation of Diego Cocca’s back-to-back title-winning team in his second stint in charge.
- Cocca is a master of getting his teams to keep it tight, while being disciplined in midfield and selective when and where to press the ball.
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Concerns:
- Atlas have conceded an average of 2.06 goals per match in all competitions this season and have a poor away record.
Head-to-Head
- Atlas are likely to keep it close as they have done in the last two meetings.
- Both of the clubs’ last two head-to-head meetings were high-scoring and exciting games.
Key Players
- The winter signing of Argentine creative midfielder Agustín Palavecino will add to that as a focal point for their possession game and a chance creator.
- Gabriel ‘Toro’ Fernández is their leading scorer and is the focal point of the forward line.
- They also have Uruguayan striker Uroš Đurđević who will hold up play and score goals, as he did in recent campaigns.
- But one player to follow is Ángel Sepúlveda, who scored a hat-trick against Atlas in July 2025 and often steps up to the plate in the big moments, so if he starts then take him to score anytime.
Betting Insights
- The ‘Over 2.5 goals’ market looks well priced at 1.61 and should be taken, especially given the cool, dry conditions that will be ideal for the hosts to pass the ball.
- Cruz Azul’s squad is deeper and they have a superior form book, so it seems logical to back them at 1.34, but Atlas are capable of keeping this close as they have in the clubs’ last two head-to-head meetings - both of which were high-scoring and exciting games.
Prediction
The hosts have the more formidable form and the home advantage, but Atlas are likely to keep it close as they have done in the last two meetings.
