When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >

Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna Prediction, Odds, Picks

Written by: Varun Shetty
Updated October 14, 2022
13 min read
  • The two teams are on the opposite ends of the form spectrum
  • Santos Laguna are struggling and may suffer another defeat
  • Cruz Azul searching for a second straight win

Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna Odds

Cruz Azul Vs Santos Laguna Prediction

Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna Pick

Pick: Cruz Azul to win

Play Fantasy Soccer Here!

🔥 Claimed by 115 people this week!

DraftKings

4.8/5

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly

21+ | T&Cs apply

Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna Predictions

Cruz Azul will be aiming to continue their resurgent run of recent form when they host the struggling Santos Laguna on Sunday night from the Estadio Azteca.

These two teams have been on opposite ends of the form spectrum: Cruz Azul have won three of their last five games to pick up a total of 10 points in that period while Santos Laguna have lost four of their last five, which has left them reeling at the bottom of the Liga MX standings with just two points in six games.

Cruz Azul Thrash Toluca

Cruz Azul were nowhere near their best but still managed to find enough offensive depth and rhythm to cruise past Toluca on the road 4-1. Juan Escobar opened the scoring in the seventh minute but Toluca equalized shortly after.

A more open second half resulted in plenty of gaps in the final third as Carlos Alberto Rodriguez broke the deadlock in the 64th minute before Santiago Gimenez closed the game with a late brace.

Impressively, Cruz Azul were able to dominate the game despite failing to find efficiency in key offensive metrics.

Cruz Azul had a passing accuracy of just 75 percent as they completed 332 passes. In terms of possession, they had just 47 percent of the ball but were significantly better in their transition from defense into the final third.

Cruz Azul had a high conversion rate of shots taken to shots on goal (11 shots taken, 5 on target).

If you extrapolate some of this offensive efficiency over the course of a season, you will see why Cruz Azul have been so successful.

They have scored 11 goals in six games this season. Only six teams have scored 10 or more goals this season. In a slow-moving league like the Liga MX, a strong offensive core can create a point of differentiation.

Defensively, Cruz Azul have still managed to stay compact at the back, conceding six goals at an average of one per game. That has resulted in a goal difference of +6, which is second-best in the Liga MX. If Cruz Azul can maintain this effectiveness on either end of the soccer pitch, then Santos Laguna are simply no match in this game.

No way out without wins

Santos Laguna are the only team in the Liga MX not to have won a single game this season. That is usually a recipe for disaster irrespective of the standard of a league.

Santos Laguna have drawn two and lost four to pick up just two points this season, which has left them reeling at the bottom of the Liga MX standings.

There were signs of defensive solidity coming back to their game in a goalless draw against Juarez on the road in their previous game.

Santos Laguna were able to ensure that Juarez failed to find even one shot on target. Offensively, they had 11 shots with three on target in that game.

While there were some promising signs in that game, it also showed the flip side where Santos Laguna were simply unable to break down a team in the final third despite having several metrics in their favor. Lots of work to be done.

Santos Laguna have the joint worst defensive record this season. They have conceded 13 goals in six games, equal to a rash Club America unit. However, with only six goals scored, they have the worst goal difference in the league at -7.

There are teams above them who have shown they can muster points despite having a poor goal difference.

Toluca, for example, have managed to climb to seventh on the points table despite having a goal difference of -4 (7 goals scored and 11 conceded). Santos Laguna will need to find similar results, and quickly, to stand any chance of making progress in the Liga MX standings.

Play Fantasy Sports Here!

Logo #1

FanDuel

4.8/5

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets

21+ | Terms and conditions apply

Logo #2

BetRivers

4.1/5

$500 Bonus Bet

21+ | VA only | Gambling problem? Call 1-800-532-3500

How to Watch Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna

Teams Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna
Location Estadio Azteca, Mexico
Time Sunday, February 27 at 8pm EST
How to watch Univision networks TUDN and UniMas, ESPN Deportes, Telemundo and Fox Deportes
Image for Varun Shetty

AUTHOR

Varun Shetty

204 Articles

Varun is a web journalist who has been writing on sports for 13 years. He took a shine for the MLS during the 2021 season and has been following it and writing about it since, alongside his work involving the English Premier League, La Liga, and the Serie A. He is deeply interested in soccer analytics and strategy and has aspirations to move into coaching at some point. Email: [email protected]

More info on Varun Shetty
We've been featured on:
espn logo
reuters logo
cbs-news logo
forbes logo
entrepreneur logo
entrepreneur logo
We only list licensed sportsbooks
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork

© Rebel Penguin ApS 2024 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)

We support responsible gambling. 21+ Only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.

WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID 89744, with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number 117656-1, possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, an interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director of Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a Vendor Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.

Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various sportsbooks.