Queretaro FC vs. Club Necaxa Prediction: Fight for a Play-In Spot

• Queretaro FC have drawn four and lost two of their six games in the Clausura 2024 season and are ranked 13th in the table 

• Club Necaxa are unbeaten in eighth place after drawing four and winning two of their six matches so far

• In the Apertura 2023 season, when Necaxa hosted Queretaro, the game ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors

Queretaro FC vs. Club Necaxa Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM Sportsbook. Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets with our code WSNMGM.

Queretaro FC vs. Club Necaxa Pick

• OUR PICK: Club Necaxa to win.

Queretaro FC vs. Club Necaxa Predictions

Queretaro are still looking to clinch their first win of the season. Their campaign started with a 2-2 draw against Toluca, followed by a 2-0 loss against Club America. Queretaro secured two crucial draws against Monterrey and Tigres but could not get a single point at home against Cruz Azul, as the hosts fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat. Queretaro were up against Tijuana in their last match and secured their fourth draw of the season after the game ended 1-1. 

Apart from Club America, Monterrey, and Tigres, Necaxa are the only team that is unbeaten in the Clausura 2024 season so far. Their season started with back-to-back 2-1 wins over Atlas FC and Puebla. After that, Necaxa secured stalemates in their last four Liga MX matches. They held Club America to a goalless draw at home before registering a couple of 2-2s on the road against Pumas UNAM and FC Juarez and then returned home to share the points with Toluca after a six-goal thriller.

This will be a relatively easier game for Queretaro compared to the previous opponents. The club has displayed a few flashes of brilliance in the tough fixtures, and a replication of that can help them nab their first win of the season against Necaxa. However, the visitors will be desperate to keep their unexpected unbeaten streak alive, and that desire could guide them to a narrow victory on enemy territory.

Previous Meetings

Known for struggling in the Mexican top division, Queretaro and Necaxa have always looked to eke out a win in this fixture to pick up valuable points. They have clashed 19 times in Liga MX, with Necaxa winning nine and Queretaro winning six. The remaining four games have ended in draws.

In the Apertura 2023 season, these two teams met at Estadio Victoria de Aguascalientes in August. Angel Sepulveda scored the only goal of that match in the 52nd minute. That was the striker’s last goal for Queretaro before moving to Cruz Azul later that month.

The last time Queretaro hosted Necaxa was in the Apertura 2022, and it did not give the hosts the outcome they had wished for. Necaxa’s Milton Gimenez bagged a brace for Necaxa and also scored an own goal as the match ended 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

Queretaro FC Will Fight for a Play-In Spot  

At the end of the regular Apertura 2023 season, Queretaro finished three points off the last play-in spot. Two additional spots will be up for grabs this season, and Queretaro will undoubtedly have an eye on those spots.

However, the team must register their first win of the season because despite being in 13th place now, the gap to the bottom of the table is merely two points. The margins are fine because the season is still in its early days, but Queretaro cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal. 

The Hosts Are Itching to End the Winless Streak

After the 1-1 draw against Tijuana in the last game, Queretaro’s winless streak in Liga MX was extended to seven matches.

The club’s last league win came on the road in November against FC Juarez. Queretaro’s last home win in Liga MX came against Tijuana in October.

Strike Will Eye a Goal Against His Former Club  

Facundo Batista has provided some respite for Queretaro FC after the departures of Sepulveda and Jose Zuniga in quick succession.

The former Necaxa striker has scored one and assisted two goals in six appearances. Now facing his former club, Batista would love to add more to his tally in this game.

Bet $5 at BetMGM and get $150 in bonuses when using promo code WSNMGM.

Club Necaxa Must Pick All Points to Gather Momentum  

Despite being away from home, Necaxa are not expected to sit back and allow Queretaro to launch a barrage of attacks. The visitors must stamp their authority on this game and aim for glory rather than settling for a stalemate.

Not only will a win help them keep their unbeaten run alive, but it will also help the club later this season if they drop many points. It will help them stay within striking distance of the play-in spots if they tumble down the table.

The Visitors Have Consecutively Dodged Defeat on the Road   

Necaxa’s last loss on the road came against Monterrey in November during the closing stages of the regular Apertura 2023 season. After that, the club has drawn three and won one of their four away games.

In the next two games on the road, Necaxa will be up against Queretaro and Mazatlan FC. Both games are winnable for the visitors, and they can easily extend their unbeaten away streak to six games.

Colombian Striker Continues to Impress

The loan signing of Diber Cambindo from Cruz Azul is paying off for Necaxa this season. The striker scored only four goals and registered one assist in 16 appearances last season.

However, this season, he has scored three and assisted two in just five appearances. The Colombian will be eager to add more to his tally against Queretaro.

Head over to BetMGM and get $150 in Bonus Bets with code WSNMGM when betting just $5.

How to Watch Queretaro FC vs. Club Necaxa

• Teams: Queretaro FC vs. Club Necaxa

• Location: Estadio Corregidora

• Time: Friday, February 16 at 8:00 pm ET

• How to Watch: Univision, Telemundo, Fox Sports, ESPN, Vix and Sling TV