CF Monterrey vs Club Leon Predictions
A prolific seven-game winning run across all competitions came to an end for CF Monterrey when they lost against Nashville SC in the semifinals of the 2023 Leagues Cup. After that loss, the club suffered another defeat in the third-place match against Philadelphia Union.
About a week later, their Apertura 2023 campaign resumed with a shocking loss at home against Cruz Azul. CF Monterrey suffered four straight defeats across two competitions when they lost narrowly against Toluca. However, in the last game, they beat Chivas Guadalajara and are expected to add another win to their tally in this match.
Club Leon’s season has been quite mercurial. The club has played seven games, out of which they have won two, drawn two, and lost three games. They won the Champions League this year but could not replicate the feat in the Leagues Cup, as they were eliminated in the first knockout round.
The team marked their return to the Apertura campaign with a narrow win against Mazatlan before losing against league-leaders Atletico de San Luis. After that, Club Leon were involved in a couple of 1-1 draws, against Club America and Necaxa. Chasing the playoffs, the eight-time Liga MX champions will be eager for a win.
Club Leon may have more league titles than CF Monterrey but the recent form of the team is quite poor. CF Monterrey are expected to capitalize on this vulnerability and pounce for all three points to nab their second straight win in the domestic league.
Previous Meetings
CF Monterrey not only have the better form but also have the better head-to-head record in this fixture. In the 22 Liga MX encounters between these two clubs, CF Monterrey have won on 11 occasions, while Club Leon have only won six times.
There have been a total of five games that have ended in a stalemate. This includes the 1-1 draw these two sides played when they met the last time in the previous Clausura season. Lucas Di Yorio’s 14th-minute strike was canceled out by Duvan Vergara’s 84th-minute equalizer.
When CF Monterrey last hosted Club Leon in Liga MX, it happened in the Apertura 2022 season. The hosts won that game with a massive 5-1 scoreline. Arturo Gonzalez scored a hat-trick and German Berterame bagged a brace in that match.
Unfortunately for CF Monterrey, both Beteratme and Gonzalez will miss the next game due to their respective injuries. Club Leon have only won two out of 11 games in CF Monterrey’s backyard, so it will be a tough encounter for them.
CF Monterrey Set For Title Charge This Season
A sixth Liga MX title is in the crosshairs of CF Monterrey this Apertura season. Over the past few years, the club has huffed and puffed, but faltered at the critical moment and ended up losing in the playoffs.
The last time CF Monterrey won the league title was at the end of the Apertura 2019 treble-winning campaign. Along with the league title, the club also won the Copa MX and the Champions League crown that season.
They won the Champions League again in 2021 but have not won any piece of silverware since then. CF Monterrey came close to winning the 2023 Leagues Cup but were two steps away from the trophy when they were eliminated. Now, the focus is completely on the Liga MX title.
Victory Crucial to Gain Momentum For Derby
CF Monterrey will have one eye on the game against Club Leon and the other will be on the preparations for the Clasico Regiomontano against Tigres UANL, in the final week of this month. That is when a lot more than three points will be at stake.
The hosts will be happy to gain some respite last weekend with a win against Chivas Guadalajara. However, now the primary objective will be to get another win to build winning momentum before the high-octane derby.
Right Flank Reinforced With the Help of a New Signing
The transfer window has been quite lively for CF Monterrey. The club has kept an eye on the Spanish top division for players. Sergio Canales was signed from Real Betis in July and has scored four goals in eight games since his arrival.
Recently, CF Monterrey have secured another La Liga signing in the form of Jesus Corona. The winger has left Sevilla and is expected to strengthen the right wing of CF Monterrey, enabling Canales to play centrally in the absence of Berterame.
Club Leon Ambitious After Champions League Success
After reaching the playoffs of the Clausura 2023 season, Club Leon were dumped out in the Round of 16 by underdogs Atletico de San Luis. The eight-time Liga MX champions suffered a shocking 3-1 defeat in their own backyard.
However, the season was not over for the club as they had defeated eventual Clausura 2023 champions Tigres UANL in the semifinals of the Champions League just days before their elimination from the playoffs.
After accomplishing that impressive feat, Club Leon went on to beat defending MLS champions Los Angeles FC in the final to clinch their maiden Champions League crown. The addition of a major trophy has increased the ambitions and expectations of the club.
Yet to Win an Away Game This Season
Games on the road have always been tricky for Club Leon. Their away form has been consistently under par, especially in the Clausura seasons. In each of the last three Clausura stages, Club Leon have won just three out of eight away games.
In Apertura 2022, Club Leon only won two out of nine away games in the regular season. Coach Nicolas Larcamon’s men will be hoping to replicate their Apertura 2020 and 2021 performances as they won five out of nine games in both those seasons.
Conversion in the Box Is the Ultimate Key
Club Leon are ranked first among all the other top-division Mexican sides when it comes to accurate crosses. Despite that, their goals-per-match ratio is only eighth best. That means good crosses are coming in but Nicolas Lopez and Federico Vinas have to do better in the box.
Vinas has scored two goals in five appearances. Meanwhile, Lopez is still waiting for his first goal. The former Tigres UANL striker scored against CF Monterrey in the 2020 Apertura season. He would certainly love to get off the mark this season with a goal against his former rivals.
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