Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Queretaro vs. Cruz Azul - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 March 2023, 13:40
Queretaro can stretch their unbeaten run at home in Liga MX to five matches when they host Cruz Azul at Estadio Corregidora on Wednesday evening.

Los Gallos Blancos are last in the coefficient table, playing to a 2-2 draw with Juarez in their previous encounter, while La Maquina sit eighth in the Clausura after defeating San Luis 1-0.

Match preview

Mauro Gerk and his team are running short on time to try to salvage a campaign which has been disastrous for a while, winning just two matches combined in the Apertura and Clausura portion of this competition.

They may not be in the best predicament at the moment, but Los Albiazules have not gone down without a fight, picking up points in four of their last five domestic affairs, including an 87th-minute penalty to draw Juarez.

On the other hand, they could have done themselves a world of good had they held onto a couple of leads, squandering four points from winning positions since January.

Six of their nine points banked in the Clausura this season have come on home soil, which is also where their only two victories domestically this season have taken place.

Queretaro have lost their last four Liga MX encounters versus Cruz Azul but have won two of the previous three meetings against them at home.

The Claurusa campaign has been littered with inconsistencies from one match to the next for Cruz Azul, who currently find themselves nine points back of a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).

Ricardo Ferretti has seen two very different-looking sides this season, one that have captured four straight wins at home, with the other losing three of their last four away fixtures, while conceding eight goals.

Like Queretaro, Los Celestes have left some points on the table, losing three times in the Clausura this season after scoring first and going winless throughout the campaign when conceding the opening goal.

Only two of their remaining league fixtures will take place in their home venue of Estadio Azteca, and given that their remaining road fixtures after Wednesday will be against sides currently ahead of them in the standings, this game could make or break their CCL dreams.

They have come a long way defensively from how they opened the Clausura campaign, posting four clean sheets in their last five games, with all four occurring at home.

Queretaro Liga MX form:

L

D

D

W

L

D

Cruz Azul Liga MX form:

W

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

Jose Maduena is doubtful for Queretaro because of a knock, while Gerk inserted a few new faces into his starting 11 versus Juarez, including Omar Mendoza, Rodrigo Lopez, Christian Rivera and Angel Sepulveda.

Leading goalscorers Pablo Barrera and Lopez each found the mark in their previous encounter, while Gil Alcala has only maintained one clean sheet in this portion of the competition, at home in a 1-0 victory over Toluca.

Clifford Aboagye had the only goal for them in a 2-1 defeat to Cruz Azul last August, though he is still searching for his first on the domestic campaign in 2022-23.

Carlos Vargas will be out of the lineup for La Maquina until the middle of October because of an ACL injury, while they put out the same starting 11 against San Luis that we saw in their game with Pumas as the only new face to feature was Ivan Morales, who replaced Ramiro Carrera as a second-half substitute.

Jose de Jesus Corona has four clean sheets in his last five outings, while Morales put home the only goal from the penalty spot in their previous encounter, his first of the Clausura, moving him two back of Uriel Antuna for the team lead.

Carlos Rotondi gave them a 1-0 lead in their last game versus Queretaro, while Christian Tabo notched the winner with fewer than 10 minutes remaining.

Queretaro possible starting lineup:

Alcala; Mendoza, Balanta, Barbieri, Fernandez; Aboagye, Hernandez, Rivera, Barrera; Sepulveda, Ayon

Cruz Azul possible starting lineup:

Corona; Escobar, Funes Mori, Dominguez, Jimenez; Antuna, Rodriguez, Rivero; Carrera, Lotti, Estrada

We say: Queretaro 0-2 Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul seem to have gained some momentum from their string of home victories, as well as tightening up defensively, and given that they are facing the lowest-scoring team in the league, we do not anticipate them to be challenged much against the Queretaro attack.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has revealed that he 'decided not to sulk' when being exiled from the first-team squad by Enzo Maresca. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford will look to pick up their first away points of the season when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue their respective unbeaten runs, Millwall and league leaders Sunderland will clash for a tasty-looking Championship battle at The Den on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to The Smisa Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face St Mirren. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Heading back to his old stomping ground for a weekend, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca takes his Blues team to the King Power Stadium for a Premier League lunchtime date with Leicester City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With three points separating them in the bottom half of the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City will do battle at Hillsborough on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City head coach Steve Cooper could be without as many as five attackers for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to halt their worrying winless run, Preston North End will welcome Derby County to Deepdale for an all-important Championship clash on Saturday afternoon in Lancashire. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is of the opinion that Leicester City hold the advantage ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Rio Ferdinand was left stunned after learning that he almost became teammates with Robert Lewandowski at Manchester United. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed yet another injury to the luckless Reece James ahead of Saturday lunchtime's Premier League fixture against Leicester City. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers, aiming to build consistent form after a challenging start to the season, host Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly identified Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez as their leading forward target for next summer, with the Red Devils believed to have put a plan in place to sign the Argentina international. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Enzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea captain Reece James has been dealt another injury blow. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oxford United play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them away from the relegation zone. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City play host to Burnley on Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to catapult themselves up the Championship table. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola, Manchester City will endeavour to return to winning ways during a tricky fixture schedule leading up to Christmas. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The faltering title hopefuls meet the unexpected Champions League challengers on Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest collide at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. 21 November 2024 talksport.com The chance to make your first senior start in professional football is what any player dreams of - unless you've been up partying all night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will have to assess a couple of his international contingent before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on what the impact of moving to Saudi Arabia had on his family. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has several fitness doubts to assess for Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Remarkably only separated by goal difference in the Premier League standings, ailing Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest prepare for an intriguing battle at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive wins in La Liga when they travel to Leganes on Sunday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could be boosted by the return of several first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will endeavour to close the five-point gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Juan Mata has made history by investing in new MLS outfit San Diego FC. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim's first taste of Premier League football will come on Sunday afternoon, when he leads his Manchester United team against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim is reportedly backing Manchester United to re-sign Angel Gomes as part of his Old Trafford rebuild. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Celtic will be looking to remain top of the Scottish Premiership when they take on Hearts at an unusual time this weekend.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon