Mazatlan FC vs CF Pachuca: No Playoff Ambitions For Mazatlan FC This Season

• Mazatlan FC have lost all five of their games so far this season, scoring five goals and conceding 16 in the process 
• CF Pachuca were held to a draw by CD Guadalajara last week after winning three games in a row and moving up to third in the table
• In the Apertura 2022 season, CF Pachuca held Mazatlan FC to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Hidalgo

Mazatlan FC vs CF Pachuca Odds

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Mazatlan FC vs CF Pachuca Pick

CF Pachuca to win

Mazatlan FC vs CF Pachuca Predictions

In the last five games, CF Pachuca have lost only once. They lost to Tigres UANL and that is their only loss of the season after which they won three consecutive games against FC Juarez, Club Necaxa and Club Leon. Their short winning streak ended last week when CD Guadalajara held them to a 1-1 draw.

So far, the season has been a disaster for Mazatlan FC as they have lost all their games so far. In their last game, Puebla registered a comfortable 3-1 win at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc. Ake Arnaud Loba found the back of the net in the 85th minute, but it did not lead to a comeback.

Apart from the balanced head-to-head record, everything else revolving around this fixture favors the visitors to win it. CF Pachuca have the firepower that can prevent an upset and continue their charge up the table.

Previous Meetings

The two sides have only met on five previous occasions in Liga MX. Both sides have two games each and only one game has ended in a draw. That game came in the Apertura 2022 season when Mazatlan FC were on the verge of pulling off an upset in CF Pachuca’s backyard before Nicolas Ibanez’s 93rd-minute strike leveled the scores.

Mazatlan FC have not beaten CF Pachuca in the last two Liga MX encounters. However, CF Pachuca have never won at the Estadio de Mazatlan before. During Clausura 2021, Mazatlan FC handed CF Pachuca a 1-0 loss before beating them 2-1 in the Apertura 2021 season.

No Playoff Ambitions For Mazatlan FC This Season

Another loss in the next game would hand Mazatlan FC their sixth defeat of the season and keep them rooted to the bottom of the table.  After the game against CF Pachuca, Mazatlan FC will be up against Queretaro FC, Pumas UNAM and Cruz Azul.

In these three games, Mazatlan FC will have to pick up maximum points if they want to show any intention of being in the playoff race. Five games in, Mazatlan FC are already seven points off the final playoff spot.

Even if they manage to pick up maximum points off weak sides, it will still be a tedious task to chase the final playoff spot in a Clausura season that is already intensifying in its early stages.

On The Verge Of Equaling Last Season’s Loss Tally  

In the Apertura 2022 season, Mazatlan FC finished 14th, two points behind the final playoff spot. Out of the 17 league games they played, Mazatlan FC lost only six. They drew the majority (8) of their games and won just three.

If Mazatlan FC lose against CF Pachuca in the next game, they will match their entire season’s loss tally after just six games this season. It is safe to assume that Mazatlan FC will surpass that tally for sure this season.

Their winless streak in Liga MX stands at nine games as of now. In these nine games, Mazatlan FC have conceded 19 goals and scored just eight. The odds and all statistics are against the bottom-dwellers in this encounter.

Seven Players On The Injury List  

It will not be long before Mazatlan FC start welcoming a few players back to the team after their respective injury stints this season. Seven names are on the current injury list of Mazatlan FC. Andres Montano picked up a knock and is doubtful ahead of the game against CF Pachuca.

Eduard Bello and Oswaldo Alanis are also under the doubtful category. Bello is struggling with a muscle injury, while Alanis has a niggle on his leg. Nicholas Benedetti and Marco Fabian are expected to return from their respective hamstring injuries at the end of this month.

Nestor Vidrio also picked up a knock that could keep him out for a couple of weeks. Carlos Vargas is the final name on the list. An unfortunate cruciate ligament injury has put Vargas on the sidelines till October. 

CF Pachuca Eye First Win At Estadio De Mazatlan   

It sounds bizarre, but it is true - CF Pachuca have never won at the Estadio De Mazatlan. This will be their third visit to the venue; this time, they will be aiming to come out all guns blazing before the opponent settles on their home turf.

Scoring goals has not been a problem for CF Pachuca this season as they are the joint-highest scorers of the Clausura league so far with 14 goals under their belt in six games. Injuries to Romario Ibarra and Pau de la Fuente have not caused a big impact at the club.

Javier Lopez has scored four goals in six games, while Aviles Hurtado and Luis Chavez have each assisted three goals this season. CF Pachuca, undoubtedly, have the firepower to clinch their first win in Mazatlan.

Attack Needs To Be A Little More Clinical  

Despite possessing the highest goals-per-match ratio of 2.3, CF Pachuca need to be a little more clinical in front of goal. That is mainly because the club is second on the big chances missed table. So far, CF Pachuca have missed ten big opportunities to score.

Nicolas Ibanez handled all attacking proceedings last season, but this season, he left for Tigres UANL. Fortunately for CF Pachuca, they have not felt his absence with Lopez dropping in with the goals and Roberto de la Rosa making a couple of contributions.

The finishing as well as their passing needs work. However, CF Pachuca will not allow such stats to bother them. As long as they score more goals than their opponents, they will be in the green, exactly how they were in the last season.

Lack Of Clean Sheets A Surprise

Apart from attack and passing, a few defensive concerns have also surfaced at the club. In six games so far, CF Pachuca have only kept one clean sheet. A leaky defense is fine as long as a side is scoring for fun.

However, this frail defense could catch CF Pachuca on the wrong foot later this season. However, the visitors will have a chance to put on a decent defensive display against Mazatlan FC.

How to Watch Mazatlan FC vs CF Pachuca

• Teams: Mazatlan FC vs CF Pachuca
• Location: Estadio de Mazatlan
• Time: Thursday, February 16 at 10 pm ET
• How to watch: Univision networks TUDN and UniMas, ESPN Deportes, Telemundo and Fox Deportes