The LigaMX Apertura regular season is nearly done and Monterrey looks a sure bet to beat Atlas this weekend.
Looking across the main sports online betting sites it is clear that the bookies are giving Atlas little chance of success against Monterrey. The home team is rated between -185 and -200, with the visitors available at any price over +500, and the draw at around +315.
Mexico’s topflight competition, LigaMX is divided into two halves: the Apertura, which runs from the summer through to October and the Clausura, which starts in the New Year. In both the Apertura and Clausura, the 18 teams will play each other once, and the top twelve teams will go into the knockout tournament, though the top four will get a bye to the quarterfinals.
There is also no relegation in this year’s competition. Still, the three teams that finish bottom overall across the two competitions will pay a financial penalty, with that money used to develop lower league clubs.
Atlas went into this year’s Apertura as back-to-back champions, but hopes of an incredible third consecutive championship were dispelled quickly. Diego Cocca’s team goes into this game one place off the bottom of the table, having won two games all season. They’ve been particularly poor on the road, losing six and drawing two of their eight games away from home and that doesn’t suggest they are going to fare well against one of LigaMX’s strongest sides.
Monterrey is second in the Apertura table, and victory here would ensure their place in the Liguilla quarterfinals. Undefeated in their last four, Monterrey has the best home defensive record in the tournament and should have no problem winning this one.
Club America staged a dramatic revival in the second half of the 2021/22 Clausura to finish fourth, which was bolstered by the signings of Nestor Araujo and Jonathan Rodriguez. They have carried on where they left off, scoring more goals than anyone else in the competition and topping the table with two games to go.
A point from either of their last two games would almost certainly confirm their spot in the quarterfinals, although this game against Guadalajara will not be straightforward. Chivas competed with realistic title hopes, and although they have failed to live up to that billing, Ricardo Cadena’s men are dangerous opponents, who have won three of their last five as they fight for a playoff spot. Nearly half of their games have been drawn this season, and I’m backing them to earn another draw here.
Pumas added experienced striker Gustavo del Prete ahead of this tournament. Still, despite an unbeaten run of six games to start Apertura, they have been unable to make much impact and go into this weekend’s round of fixtures two points outside the playoff places, though with a game in hand.
They may yet sneak into the top twelve, but their cautious approach has resulted in too many draws and not enough wins, something that cannot be said of their opponents. Not much was expected of Cruz Azul this season, but they have played with attacking intent and have earned some reward with three wins and a draw in their last five, moving them up to tenth in the table. That said, they’ve only picked up two points from their last six away games, so a draw may be the best they can hope for here.
Leon were winners of the 2020 Apertura and reached the final last year, but they slumped during the Clausura earlier this year and have shown mixed form this time. They go into this game in the ninth position but are only two points clear of the chasing group, so that a win would be welcome.
Fortunately for Leon fans, their team is up against the worst team in LigaMX this weekend. The ban on home fans has not helped, but Queretaro has played poorly throughout Apertura so far, with only one win and 16 goals from their 15 games. They are the only team in the Apertura that cannot mathematically make it to the playoffs, and their season cannot end soon enough.
Queretaro did show some positive signs in their last game, earning a draw against fourth-placed Santos Laguna, but they’ve earned just two points on the road this season, and I can’t see them getting anything out of this game against opponents with everything to play for.
Check out the leading soccer betting sites below. You can get the best betting advice and Las Vegas odds when you bet with these betting partners.
