Cruz Azul vs Chivas Guadalajara Predictions

Sunday’’s Liga MX Clausura action sees Cruz Azul doing battle with Chivas. The visitors will be looking to take home a positive result with them against a Cruz Azul outfit set to lose one of its key figures.

Indeed, as if losing the final of the opening stage play-offs to city rivals Club America wasn’t enough, Cruz Azul fans are set to be hit with another disappointment as key midfielder Ivan Marcone closes in on a move to Argentine champions Boca Juniors. Marcone had played a key part in La Maquina’s strong showings over the Apertura phase and will certainly be a big miss.

It remains to be seen if he’ll mark a farewell appearance in this clash, with the transfer yet to be fully finalised, but whatever team takes to the field won’t be a particularly confident one, having now won just 1 of their last 6 matches. Pedro Caixinha’s troops kicked off the Clausura with a 1-1 draw at Puebla last weekend and all signs would suggest that they’re going to face an uphill struggle as regards matching their efforts over the opening half of the campaign.

Meanwhile, having failed to reach the play-offs for the third phase in a row over the Apertura, Chivas have invested heavily in their squad and there’s a renewed vigour around the team now. The arrivals of Hiram Mier, Dieter Villalpando, Jesús Molina, Tony Alfaro, Alexis Vega and Luis Madrigal have them looking a far stronger outfit and the expectation is now that they finish in the top 8 at the very least.

Efforts towards achieving that target certainly got off to a good start last weekend, as the side saw of Tijuana 2-0 on home soil with a convincing performance. Having followed that up with a 2-1 win at Cimarrones de Sonora in the cup in midweek, Chivas are starting to build some real momentum and will be looking to continue that in Sunday’s game; something that doesn’t appear at all unlikely given they are 8 Liga MX matches unbeaten on the road.

Ultimately, although Cruz Azul performed far better than Chivas did over the first half of the campaign, it’s now Chivas who look in a more positive place. Cruz Azul’s devastating loss in the final has morale low in the camp and set to lose such an important figure, that’s not something that looks like improving any time soon.

All things considered, backing Chivas on the Double Chance line looks to provide excellent value and is exactly where our money is going. Chivas finally appear to be getting their act together and have looked convincing on the road in recent months anyhow. We just can’t see them losing this match despite being ranked as big underdogs and fancy things to end all square in a 1-1 draw.