Club America vs Santos Laguna, Betting Odds & Picks

• Roger Martinez will be ready to once again make game-changing, daring runs for America
• America have the benefit of numerous goalscoring options
• If there’s any chance for Santos, it’ll land in the goalkeeping hands of Carlos Acevedo

Club America vs Santos Laguna Odds

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Club America vs Santos Laguna Predictions and Picks

There’s a reason why Club America are the favorites. Following the end of Week 3, no Liga MX team has scored more than the seven-goal tally that Las Aguilas currently have in the early stages of the 2020 Apertura season. Although Santos Laguna could make things interesting thanks to their goalkeeper, it’s doubtful they’ll be able to keep up for 90 minutes.

Pick:

Club America to win -107

How to Watch Club America vs Santos Laguna

Who Will Stop America?

With seven points and a +5 goal differential, no team has performed better in the first three weeks of the Liga MX season than the Mexico City giants. Carried by big-game performances from starters like Sebastian Cordova, Richard Sanchez, Roger Martinez, and others, America is once again looking like a title-contender in the Mexican soccer scene.

But What About Santos?

Sure, they currently have a spot at eight place and made headlines over the weekend for their impressive 2-2 draw with Monterrey, but Los Guerreros have also had to rely on high-flying saves from young goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo. Their project under manager Guillermo Almada is an interesting one that has produced some impressive numbers when it comes to interceptions and winning aerial duels, but will that be enough to halt America’s efforts?

Martinez, A Much-Needed Risk-Taker For America

Let’s look at some stats from the first three matchdays of the season.

At the moment, no Liga MX player has taken part in more 1v1 dribbling situations than America’s Martinez. With 39 dribbles in total — which comes out to an average of 13 per game — the pacey and intelligent Colombian winger is a force to be reckoned with.

Once typically deployed as a striker, America’s No. 9 has since found a new role as a high-pressing right midfielder for the club.

If he continues his adventurous runs and clever dribbles, Santos might not stand a chance this week…

The Benefit Of Having Numerous Goalscorers For America

Unlike other Liga MX teams that have had to put all of their attacking efforts on the shoulders of a striker, America have been blessed with a number of different options who have stepped up and shared the responsibility of scoring.

Five different players have scored Las Aguilas’ seven goals in total. While Henry Martin and Federico Viñas each have two, Bruno Valdez, Cordova and Sanchez have all also chipped in with one of their own.

This is all good news for manager Miguel “Piojo” Herrera. With plenty of depth and options at his disposal, Herrera will rest easy knowing that he has a variety of tools through players that can get the job done against Santos on Thursday.

Can Acevedo Ruin America’s Party?

Despite the fact that Santos has the worst xG (expected goals) against tally in the league — an eye-catching 7.63 total to be exact — they have still been able to clinch four points in their first three matches.

How is this possible?

That’s thanks to Acevedo. The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been one of the bigger storylines in the first few weeks of the season. With more saves in net than any other player in the league, the young Mexican has helped Santos avoid a disastrous start to the tournament.

Nonetheless, Thursday’s match against the current 1st place team will be his most arduous test yet this season. If there’s any chance of Santos escaping from Mexico City with at least a point in hand against the best-attacking team so far in Liga MX, Acevedo will need to be near-perfect.