Querétaro (Home)
- Querétaro’s new manager, Chilean Esteban González, has spent much of his brief time in charge trying to instill structure and balance to a young squad and seems to be making progress.
- Gallos Blancos are much more defensive in their approach, playing with a lower block and looking for counterattack opportunities to disrupt the opponent’s structure.
- Structure and solidity in defense has been a priority, but Querétaro are improving in the attacking third thanks to young forwards like Eduardo ‘Edú’ Pérez.
- Alí Ávila remains the main goal threat for Querétaro and carried his form over from last season into the Clausura.
América (Away)
- André Jardine’s Club América side is a high-tempo, possession-based team that plays best when it is on the front foot, able to control the tempo with a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system that presses high and wide.
- América’s current form has been patchy with emphatic wins over Necaxa (2-0), Monterrey (1-0) and Puebla (4-0) punctuated by a humiliating 1-4 defeat to Tigres.
- Jardine’s men are strong in midfield and have the firepower to win games, but a lack of defensive solidity has come under fire from the press and fans alike.
Head-to-Head
- America have won the last five Liga MX head-to-heads, including wins this season and last season.
- America’s 1-0 away win this season and 3-1 home win last season suggest a similar outcome here.
- Querétaro have not beaten América at home for several years and the capital side have dominated the head-to-head across all competitions in recent seasons.
Key Players
- América
- Henry Martín is América’s focal point up front, but has not performed at his best recently due to injury and rotation for continental games.
- Alejandro Zendejas is the current in-form man for América, scoring goals and providing assists from wide areas of the field, while Brian Rodríguez and Víctor Dávila provide strength in depth and can provide big moments as starters or off the bench.
- Querétaro
- Alí Ávila remains the main goal threat for Querétaro and carried his form over from last season into the Clausura.
- Querétaro are improving in the attacking third thanks to young forwards like Eduardo ‘Edú’ Pérez.
Betting Insights
- América are odds-on favorites at 1.67 to take all three points in this game with Querétaro 5.4 and the draw 3.45, which seems right to us.
- América to edge a close game looks the best option to us, with ‘Both teams to score - No’ at 1.69 a good bet with the odds-on favourites looking to control the game and keep it tight.
Prediction
- América should have the quality to edge this, but González will get Gallos to play well and a upset cannot be ruled out.
- América’s superior firepower and recent dominance of the head-to-head means that a low-scoring away win, either 0-1 or 0-2, looks the most likely outcome in the correct score market.
