Club Leon vs FC Juarez Prediction
Club Leon are the favorites to win their final Apertura 2023 league phase clash against an underperforming FC Juarez side.
The hosts will take a lot of heart from their last appearance in the league against Puebla. Leon displayed their goal-scoring prowess in their last fixture but lost the nine-goal thriller 5-4 against Puebla.
Guillermo Martinez (19’, 51’, 83’) netted a hat-trick for Puebla, while Diego de Buen (79’) and Miguel Sansores (90+3’) scored one each. Meanwhile, Federico Vinas (10’, 45+1’) scored a brace for Club Leon, with Nicolas Lopez (45’) and Omar Fernandez (90+1’) netting one each. In the evenly poised match, Leon controlled most of the possession.
Juarez will look to overcome their poor performance in the last match but will be wary of their formidable opponents. A ten-man Juarez lost 0-3 to Queretaro FC in their last match.
Jose Murillo (1’, 54’, 76’) scored a sublime hat-trick for the visitors, while Aviles Hurtado was sent off in the 79th minute for Juarez. However, the hosts showed resilience after going a man down and did not concede more goals.
Previous Meetings
Club Leon and Juarez have faced off nine times in their Liga MX history since 2019. Leon have stamped their authority on the rivalry, winning five matches, while Juarez have won only one encounter, and three matches ended in a draw.
Both the clubs last faced off in a Liga MX Clausura 2023 clash in February this year. Hosts Juarez played out a goalless draw against Club Leon in their previous meeting, and both sides finished the game with ten men.
It was a cagey battle between the two sides as Juarez had no shots on target while Leon created only one big chance. Alejandro Arribas was dismissed in the 90th minute for the hosts, while Leon went down to ten in the 52nd minute after Paul Bellon was shown a straight red.
Leon have been a resilient side at home, winning two and registering three draws in their last five fixtures. Meanwhile, Juarez have drawn once and lost four times in their last five away fixtures.
Club Leon Look to Maintain Unbeaten Record at Home
The hosts will be eager to maintain their unbeaten record at home. The current Champions League holders registered their last loss at home by a slender 1-2 margin against Guadalajara in July.
Since then, Leon have clinched a 4-0 win over Pachuca, a 2-1 win over Mazatlan, a 1-1 draw against Necaxa, 1-0 wins over Club Tijuana and Toluca, while registering a 1-1 draw against Atlas and Pumas UNAM. Leon are unbeaten in their last seven matches at home and will be the favorites to extend their record.
Key Defenders Doubtful
The hosts will likely be without the services of their center back, Jaine Barreiro, and left back, Pedro Hernandez.
Barreiro, who has netted once and assisted as many, picked up an injury in September and remains doubtful for the match. Hernandez is also doubtful after picking up an injury in August.
Vinas-Mena Key for Hosts
Club Leon will bank on their center forward Federico Vinas and midfielder Angel Mena to produce moments of brilliance in front of the goals.
Vinas has been the leading goal scorer for Leon, netting five times and assisting once in 11 appearances, while Mena has netted two goals and assisted thrice in 16 matches.
FC Juarez Look to Snap Winless Run
The visitors will be desperate to snap their three-match winless run and push one final time to nab a playoff spot.
In their last three matches, Juarez have lost 1-5 against Santos Laguna, 0-2 against Cruz Azul, and 0-3 to Queretaro. The club registered their last win by a slender 3-2 margin at home against ten-man San Luis in the last week of October.
Key Goal Scorer to Serve Suspension
In a big blow to the visitors, they will miss out on the services of their key player, Aviles Hurtado.
The Colombian was given his marching orders in their last fixture. He has been crucial for the side, scoring six times and assisting thrice, making him the leading goal scorer and assist provider.
All Eyes on Garcia-Rodriguez
FC Juarez will expect Aitor Garcia and Luis Rodriguez to step up and fill the massive void left by Hurtado.
Garcia has netted thrice in 14 appearances, while Rodriguez has assisted twice in 15 matches.
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