Puebla vs Mazatlán Prediction, Betting Odds, Picks

• Puebla lost all three league games leading before the playoffs to miss out on a quarter-finals spot for which they needed only one point
• Mazatlán managed to squeeze into the playoffs with a stunning run of four wins in a row at the end
• These two sides played each other last weekend and Mazaltan came out winners

Puebla vs Mazatlán Odds

Puebla vs Mazatlán Prediction

Puebla and Mazatlán had contrasting endings to the league season, and that form is very likely to continue in the knockout stages. The two sides finished at the opposite ends of the playoff brackets, but it is the 12th placed Mazatlán who will be confident of a win.

Mazatlán defeated Puebla in the final game of the league season last week to confirm their place in the playoffs. A loss or draw would have seen them finish outside the top 12 and Club Leon taking their place in the knockout stages.

Similarly, Puebla will regret not making the most of their chances to finish in the top four. They needed just one point in their last three matches to seal the top four spot, but ended up losing all of them.

In the final game of the season, Oswaldo Alanís handed Mazatlan the lead right after the second half started. They were awarded a penalty minutes later, and Marco Fabián converted from the spot after a lengthy VAR check to double the lead. Puebla needed a quick response to have any chance of getting a point from the game, but their only goal came in the 94th minute via Pablo Parra.

The match ended 2-1 in favor of Mazatlan, and they managed to make an unlikely comeback in the season and make it to the knockout stages. A repeat of the match result is expected when the two sides clash this weekend.

The winner of this match will face the winner of the Monterrey vs Atletico de San Luis game.

Puebla Must Put League Form Behind Them And Focus On The Task Ahead

Puebla made a brilliant start to the season and were one of the favorites to finish on top of the table. They were unbeaten after 9 matches and had picked up 6 wins, while drawing the other three. Moreover, they were ruthless in front of the goal, and no team seemed to have an answer to stopping them, the most undervalued team in the league on paper based on financials.

All that changed in gameweek 10 when Puebla were at Atletico de San Luis. The home side took the lead right before halftime via Juan Manuel Sanabria and made the league leaders struggle. However, normal service seemed to have been restored when Martín Barragán got the equalizer in the 88th minute.

The unbeaten run was set to continue, and Puebla were attacking to try and get the win. Efrain Orona had other plans and scored against the run of play in the 96th minute to hand San Luis a shock win and end the unbeaten run of the table toppers.

Puebla players quickly put the loss behind them and took a 2-0 lead in the next match against Santos Laguna. But the side struggling for points made a stunning comeback late in the game and took a point away. Leonardo Suárez and Eduardo Aguirre scored within 2 minutes of each other to end the game 2-2.

Laguna Heartbreak Rubs off on Following Fixtures

The harried draw seemed to have dented something in the Puebla set up, and that would begging to reflect in the fixtures that followed. Toluca, another side in poor form, pulled off a 2-1 win over them, and the drastic change in form was visible. Kevin Castañeda and Valber Huerta scored in the first half to hand them a 2-0 lead before Israel Reyes pulled one back right before the break. However, there was no change in momentum, and the game ended with the same scoreline.

Puebla were still in control of finishing at the top of the table but needed to ensure there were no more slip-ups. Those hopes ended in the next game as they drew 2-2 with Pumas UNAM. Yet again, they took a 2-0 lead and could not keep it intact. Rogério and Jorge Ruvalcaba scored late in either half to help the away side run away with a point.

A Poor End to the League Stages

Fernando Aristeguieta helped Puebla end their winless run by scoring the lone goal in their game against Club Leon, but the others failed to make the most of things.

Needing just one point from their last 3 matches to finish in the top 4, Puebla were confident of doing it. They had just one tough fixture – against leaders Pachuca, and they were facing two sides below them in the table – Club Necaxa and Mazatlan. To everyone’s shock, Puebla lost all three matches and finished 5th in the table.

Mazatlán Will Be Looking To Keep Their Stunning Run Going

While Puebla ended the season with a winless run, Mazatlan did the opposite. After picking up just two wins and nine points from their first 13 games of the season, no one gave them a chance of making it to the playoffs as they were second from the bottom. Needing a win in all four remaining games to have any chance of making it to the top 12, Mazatlan were at Atlas first. They were up against a side that was pushing for a place in the top 4 and had lost just thrice.

Gabriel Esteban Caballero Shicker’s men managed to spring a surprise and win 2-1. Gonzalo Sosa scored a first-half brace, and they did not make the mistake of sitting back. Julio Furch pulled one back for Atlas from the spot early in the second half before being sent off in the 81st minute. The scoreline remained 2-1, and the hopes of Mazatlan making the playoffs were still alive.

Next up were Santos Laguna, another side chasing a place in the top 12 but in a much better situation than Mazatlan. Gonzalo Sosa was on the scoresheet again in the first half for the home side, and his goal was enough for them to seal a 1-0 win.

Completing the job

Juarez were next in line to face Mazatlan, and this was the only ‘easy fixture’ for them as the home side were at the bottom of the table. Brian Rubio scored a brace to ensure Mazatlan did not slip up and kept the hopes of making it to the playoffs alive.

Going into the final day of the season, Mazatlan needed to pick up the unlikely win over Puebla and hope that Club Leon or Pumas UNAM dropped points. They were still the 3rd favorites to make it to the playoffs at this stage but managed to stun the Liga MX fans.

Oswaldo Alanís and Marco Fabián scored to hand them a 2-0 lead over Puebla, and the defenders did the rest of the job. Pablo Parra scored the lone goal for Puebla from the spot, but it came in the 94th minute and they could not spark a comeback, thereby sealing Mazatlan’s place in the playoffs as Club Leon had drawn 4-4 with Toluca.

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