Cruz Azul welcomes city rivals Club America to the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes for the first leg of their Liga MX Clausura final on Thursday, May 23.
Despite suffering a recent 2-1 defeat to Monterrey in the semifinal’s second leg, Cruz Azul advanced by virtue of being the higher-seeded team after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Angel Sepulveda’s goal had initially given Cruz Azul the lead in the 62nd minute, but German Berterame’s brace secured Monterrey’s comeback.
Club America’s Path to the Final
In contrast, Club America reached the final with a 1-0 home victory over Guadalajara, thanks to Israel Reyes’ decisive 61st-minute goal, securing a 1-0 aggregate win.
America’s ability to maintain a strong defensive performance highlights their disciplined approach in crucial matches, setting the stage for a highly competitive final against their city rivals.
Head-to-Head History
This match marks the 170th edition of the Clasico Joven, a fierce rivalry between these two teams. Historically, Club America holds the upper hand with 61 wins.
Their most recent encounter in February ended with a 1-0 victory for America at home, adding another layer of intensity to this upcoming clash.
Recent Form and Team News
Cruz Azul’s recent form has been mixed, with a record of L-W-D-W-W, indicating some inconsistency. In contrast, Club America’s recent form shows W-D-D-D-L, reflecting a tendency towards draws but also resilience.
Cruz Azul has Carlos Alonso Vargas as a confirmed injury and Gabiel Fernandez as a doubt, while Club America will be missing Sebastian Caceres, with Kevin Alvarez listed as doubtful.
Cruz Azul (4-5-1): Kevin Mier (GK); Camilo Candido, Rafael Guerrero, Willer Ditta, Carlos Salcedo; Lorenzo Faravelli, Carlos Rodriguez, Carlos Rotondi, Ignacio Rivero, Rodrigo Huescas; Uriel Antuna
Club America (4-2-3-1): Luis Malagon (GK); Cristian Calderon, Ramon Juarez, Igor Lichnovsky, Israel Reyes; Alvaro Fidalgo, Jonathan dos Santos; Julian Quinones, Diego Valdes, Alex Zendejas; Henry Martin
Prediction
Cruz Azul finished as runners-up in the regular season, and their recent loss to Monterrey ended an eight-game unbeaten streak. They have struggled in recent head-to-head matches against Club America, losing four of the last five encounters.
Club America, having finished at the top of the standings, will aim to build on their strong form. Given the competitive nature of both teams, a closely contested, low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.
