Cruz Azul vs Puebla Match Analysis & Prediction
13/11/2023 3:00 am
Cruz Azul will be looking to end the Apertura campaign on a positive note when they welcome Puebla to Estadio Azteca on Monday morning.
La Maquina are 16th in the Liga MX table following a 1-0 defeat at Chivas in their previous domestic game, while Los Camoteros need a victory to hame any hope of making the Apertura play-in round, currently a point behind Santos Laguna after a dramatic 5-4 win at home against Club Leon.
Rumoured tensions between coaches and management and plenty of distractions off the field led to the dismissal of Ricardo Ferretti in early August as Cruz Azul was in a tailspin throughout the first half of the Liga MX season, claiming just a single point from their first five matches.
However, former midfielder Joaquin Moreno has salvages a little pride in this historic club of late, with the new manager winning two of his previous three league matches in charge, including successive clean sheets at home.
Even if they were to succeed in their final game of the Apertura though, Cruz Azul would still finish with a mere 20 points, their lowest total in the first half of a domestic campaign since collecting 19 in 2016-17.
During the 2023-24 Apertura campaign, Los Celestes were in a winning position at the interval four times, failing to emerge victorious in each of those instances, and those 11 points dropped could have put them in the final phase of this competition.
It was a rough start to the new Liga MX for Puebla, who had just one point from their opening five matches, although they have picked it up since the end of October, unbeaten in three consecutive league matches.
Defensively the team were a mess in 2022-23 Clausura season, tied for the third-most goals conceded (32), and it has not been much better so far this year, having allowed multiple strikes in seven domestic games and allowing two more goals when compared to their previous Apertura campaign.
Ricardo Carbajal has seen his side squander six points when scoring first in this competition, conceding an equalising goal twice in stoppage time.
However, with a victory on Monday, Puebla can match their points total in the Apertura from a season ago, as the team are currently on 19 points.
Cruz Azul vs. Puebla Head to head
In the 39 previous meetings between these two teams, Cruz Azul have claimed 15 victories while Puebla have won 11, and they have drawn in 13. Puebla have scored 48 goals and conceded 59 in the process.
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17/01/2021Cruz Azul0Puebla1Liga MX
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25/09/2021Puebla1Cruz Azul1Liga MX
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06/03/2022Cruz Azul1Puebla3Liga MX
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24/07/2022Cruz Azul2Puebla2Liga MX
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18/02/2023Puebla1Cruz Azul3Liga MX
Cruz Azul Team News
Cristian Jimenez is doubtful for Cruz Azul due to an ankle injury, while Alexis Gutierrez came into the lineup to replace Carlos Rotondi in their starting XI from matchday 15 to 16.
Andres Gudino has collected back-to-back clean sheets for them at home, while Angel Sepulveda had the winner in their previous 2-0 win over Juarez, when Uriel Antuna bagged a goal and an assist.
Cruz Azul's Last 5 Matches
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08/10/2023Cruz Azul1Pumas UNAM4Liga MX
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22/10/2023Tigres UANL2Cruz Azul1Liga MX
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29/10/2023Cruz Azul1Leon0Liga MX
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02/11/2023Cruz Azul2Juarez0Liga MX
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05/11/2023Guadalajara1Cruz Azul0Liga MX
Puebla Team News
Facundo Waller will miss out for Puebla due to a muscle injury, while Gabriel Carabajal was the only newcomer to feature in their previous game, replacing Pablo Gonzalez in the second half of their last match.
Guillermo Martinez bagged a hat-trick in their win over Leon, putting him at nine goals domestically this season, two behind Harold Preciado for the league lead.
Puebla's Last 5 Matches
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09/10/2023Necaxa1Puebla2Liga MX
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21/10/2023Puebla0Guadalajara2Liga MX
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29/10/2023Pachuca1Puebla1Liga MX
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01/11/2023Toluca0Puebla1Liga MX
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04/11/2023Puebla5Leon4Liga MX
Cruz Azul vs. Puebla: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 1
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