Tigres vs Cruz Azul Predictions

Sunday’s Liga MX Clausura action sees Tigres going up against Cruz Azul. The hosts will be looking to extend the visitor’s poor start to the year by claiming all 3 points.

Tigres are gunning for redemption in this Clausura phase, having lost at the quarter-finals stage of the Apertura play-offs. Finishing in the top 8 is a bare minimum for the hosts over the coming months, but with one of the strongest squads in the division on paper, they certainly have to be regarded as one of the main contenders for the title.

Tigres have started the year in reasonably strong fashion, taking 4 points from 2 away games; first drawing 2-2 at Leon prior to hammering Tijuana 3-0 with a very impressive showing last weekend. Now back in front of the home crowd, Ricardo Ferretti’s troops will be looking for another strong performance and having scored in 14 consecutive Liga MX matches, notching an average of 2.5 goals a game in the process, they’ll certainly be confident in causing Cruz Azul plenty of problems.

Even more so than because the visitors have made a lethargic start to the year. Disappointment from losing the Apertura playoff final to city rivals Club America is still running through the visiting camp and if performances don’t improve swiftly, then the side are at real risk of missing out on the top 8 altogether in this closing phase.

Indeed, having also lost star midfielder Ivan Marcone to Boca Juniors, Cruz Azul do not look the same force they were last year and are really struggling. Pedro Caixinha’s men kicked things off with a 1-1 draw at Puebla but then went on to lose 1-0 at home to Chivas last weekend and having followed that up with a 3-2 loss to Leon in the cup during midweek, they arrive for this clash with no momentum behind them whatsoever.

Ultimately, Tigres arrive for the match in by far the better shape of the two and are looking an extremely potent force. They have numerous attacking weapons that make them a force against just about anyone and with Cruz Azul in such poor form, you do have to worry for the visitors.

As such, backing a home win looks the way to play and is exactly where our money is going at a more than reasonable price. Tigres have scored at least twice in their last 5 home matches and we think they will extend that streak, with a 2-0 margin of home victory on the cards.