León vs Atlas Odds & Prediction – Liga MX Apertura Finals Leg 1

• Surprise contender Atlas heads to last year’s Apertura champion at 10:00 pm ET on Thursday
• Atlas has not won a Liga MX title since 1951 but is strong after second-place regular-season finish
• See all odds, best bets and predictions for León vs Atlas in Liga MX Apertura Finals Leg 1 below

Leon will be aiming to win Mexico’s Liga MX Apertura title for the second season in succession when it kicks off the two-legged final against Atlas on Thursday.

Atlas is a surprise contender for honors this season after finishing second in the regular-season standings – and then subsequently reaching this final.

It has previously won only one Liga MX title way back in 1950-51.

Liga MX Leon vs Atlas Odds

Odds as of December 9 at Barstool

Meanwhile, Leon is enjoying a successful period.

After winning last year’s Apertura title, it has also this year lifted the Leagues Cup contested between sides from Liga MX and North America’s MLS.

Leon Was 2019 Clausura Finalist

Furthermore, it also reached the final of the 2019 Clausura section of the Mexican league championship.

Now it is the favorite with Barstool Sportsbook to win the opening leg of the final which kicks off at Leon’s HQ at 10:00 pm ET on Thursday.

The oddsmakers rate Leon at +112 for a home victory with Atlas at +265. The draw, moreover, is priced at +195.

A win for Leon looks a good option here.

Significantly, Leon made comebacks to progress through both the quarterfinal and the semifinal stage of the competition.

It reached the final thanks to a 2-1 win against Tigres UANL in the second leg of their last four clash – having lost 2-1 in the opening game.

Angel Mena was the hero for Leon with two goals in the semi-final second leg.

That made it 3-3 on aggregate with Leon accordingly progressing because of its higher seeding in the knockout stage.

Once again, furthermore, it was the Ecuadorean forward Angel Mena who was the hero for Leon with two goals in the second leg.

He had also scored twice in the 2-0 defeat of Puebla in the second leg of the quarterfinal.

https://youtu.be/n3IdxhEIU_Y

Mena put Leon in front after just eight minutes of the semifinal second leg.

Then, after a quick equalizer from Tigres, defeat was surely looming for Leon until Mena scored again in the 85th minute.

Now there is an attractive prop option for Mena to be the first goalscorer in the first leg at +550.

Third in Regular Season Standings

There had previously been a third-place finish for Leon in the regular season standings which earned it a higher seeding than fourth-placed Tigres.

Now Leon has the chance to follow up its 3-1 aggregate triumph against Pumas UNAM in the final of last season’s Apertura competition.

Liga MX Leon vs Atlas Stats

*Stats from Apertura knock-out stage.

Mexico splits its league championship into two separate tournaments.

The Apertura is played each season before Christmas. Then, subsequently, the Clausura kicks off in the New Year.

Atlas Boosted By Second-Place Seeding

Guadalajara-based Atlas advanced to the final with a 1-1 aggregate draw against Pumas UNAM – thanks to its higher seeding.

Its second-place finish was comparatively more advantageous than the 11th place finish of Pumas.

#GritaMéxicoA21 I #Semifinal I #LEOvsTIG

FINAL

🦁2-1🐯#OurPride 🦁#PorLeonesisisimaVez pic.twitter.com/KMVWIJAFWG

— Club Leon EN (@clubleon_en) December 5, 2021

There was, firstly, a 1-0 win for Atlas in the opening leg away from home.

It was subsequently beaten 1-0 at home but still made it to the showdown with Leon.

Certainly, Leon will be looking to wide forward Mena to continue his good form and land them the title.

After 22 years, Atlas are back in a final after beating Pumas in the semifinals.

They face Club León for the Liga MX Apertura title 🎆

(via @LigaBBVAMX)pic.twitter.com/fUzLd4p3s5

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 6, 2021

Coach Ariel Horan will surely stick with the partnership of Mela and his Chilean teammate Victor Davila, who was a major thorn in the side of Tigres in the semifinal second leg.

This is the balance in the attack which could win it for Leon.

There was previously a knockout stage goal for Davila in the 2-0 quarterfinal second-leg defeat of Puebla.

Atlas plays a tightly-organized 5-3-2 system and is difficult to break down.

Colombian defender William Tesilo could also, furthermore, be a key man for Leon as the team will need to be tight against Atlas’ flanks-based attacking strategy.

Atlas plays a tightly-organized 5-3-2 system and is difficult to break down.

Argentine striker Julio Furch will be an important figure after scoring twice so far in the knockout stage.

The team’s 29-year-old captain, Aldo Rocha, is also an imposing leader in midfield.

Meanwhile, Atlas has conceded just twice in its four knockout games this season which underlines the good form of goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

THANK YOU!

ON TO THE NEXT ONE! #OurPride 🦁💚 pic.twitter.com/HjFWB2aQii

— Club Leon EN (@clubleon_en) December 5, 2021

Atlas was a 2-0 winner at home the last time these teams met in September.

Previously, Leon had been undefeated in six collisions – winning four times and drawing twice.

Celebration at the Estadio Jalisco after Atlas booked their place into the Liga MX finals. #LigaMXeng https://t.co/URE1vKkULe

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) December 6, 2021

Seedings will not count in this two-legged final. If there is a draw after two legs, extra-time and then, a possible penalty shoot-out will follow.

However, in conclusion, Leon looks likely to secure an advantage the first time out.

Pick: Angel Mena First Goalscorer (+550)