Atlas vs Pachuca Odds & Prediction – Liga MX Clausura Finals Leg 1

• It’s Atlas vs Pachuca in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura finals
• Atlas is a +180 favorite for the first leg on Thursday, May 26, at 10:00 pm ET
• Read on for betting odds, a full preview and best bets for this decisive match

After winning the Apertura title earlier this season, Atlas has a chance to make it a Liga MX double when it kicks off the first leg of the Clausura final on Thursday, May 26 at 10:00 pm ET. To do so it will have to defeat top-seeded Pachuca over the two legs, with the return fixture taking place this coming Sunday.

Both teams enter the final with a flourish, having overcome highly vaunted opponents in the semifinals. Atlas just squeaked by Tigres UNAM 5-4, while Pachuca enjoyed a 3-0 home win over Club America on its way to a 4-1 aggregate win.

Atlas vs Pachuca Odds

Odds as of May 26th at DraftKings

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Over/Under and Spread

Given that both teams had the joint-stingiest defenses in Liga MX regular season, each giving up just 15 goals in 17 games, it’s not overly surprising that the bookies are finding it hard to pick between the two teams. Predictably, goals are expected to be hard to come by, with Over 2.5 goals currently being offered at +165, while you can bet Pachuca at +0.5 on the Asian handicap at +175 odds.

#Cr3amos this beautiful #Rojinegros family and together we will continue to write this story. ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/S7OWsT7iYP

— Atlas FC EN (@AtlasFC_en) May 26, 2022

Long Time Coming

When it comes to playoff meetings, Atlas and Pachuca have but one solitary encounter in their histories. That took place in 1999, when the seventh-seeded Los Tuzos upended the top-seeded Zorros in the semifinals, winning 2-0 at home before succumbing 1-0 in Guadalajara to take the aggregate victory. Pachuca went on to claim its first Liga MX title in the final that year.

Pachuca’s Road Warriors

Since taking over the club last December, manager Guillermo Almada has transformed the fortunes of Los Tuzos, particularly outside of their home in Hidalgo. The team won a league-high six games away from Estadio Hidalgo, outscoring the opposition 16-10 in those games.

On top of that, the team has won three straight contests at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, where Pachuca has not lost since April 2017, when it was edged 1-0 by Atlas.

Atlas Far From Safe At Home

Despite finishing third in the final Clausura table, much of Atlas’s campaign was propped up by its form away from home. Los Zorros actually won more games on the road (4) than they did at home (3),  where they managed to score just eight goals in eight games.

Atlas ⚫️🔴 are close to being back-to-back Liga MX champions 🏆

…and they don’t have a single player that made Mexico’s 🇲🇽 38-man roster for the Nations League/Friendlies this summer. pic.twitter.com/qfLxAG1v9C

— Hat-trick Chris 🇲🇽 (@HatTrickChris) May 22, 2022

And Pachuca has already proved that it can win at Los Zorros’ home stadium in the Clausura, triumphing 1-0 there back in March, with substitute Roberto de la Rosa providing a late winner for the visitors.

Can Pachuca Bring Potent Offense to Bear?

While the two teams cancel each other out defensively, conceding just 15 goals each in the regular season, Pachuca carries a far greater attacking threat. Led by Nicolas Ibanez’s nine goals (with five more in the playoffs), Los Tucos were the joint top scorers alongside Tigres, finding the net on 30 occasions.

Guillermo Almada has led Pachuca into the Liga MX Clausura final.

The club – founded by Cornish miners – beat Club América 3-0 last night to qualify for the final, where they will face Atlas.

Almada's job in his first season as Pachuca manager has been exceptional.🔝 pic.twitter.com/vSpduzvOmv

— Warriors of Uruguay (@UruguayanHeroes) May 23, 2022

By way of contrast, Atlas scored just 21 times in 17 games. However, Colombian forward Julian Quinones is in a rich vein of form, having registered seven goals and two assists in his last 10 games – which included scoring in both legs of the semifinal – and will be the player that Atlas looks to for goals in this two-legged final.

Atlas vs Pachuca Team Lineups and Injuries

Atlas Projected Lineup: Vargas; Santamaria, Nervo, Aguirre; Abella, Márquez, Rocha, Reyes, Chala; Furch, Quinones.

Atlas Injuries: Emanuel Aguilera (Injured, but possible).

Pachuca Lineup: Ustari; Alvarez, Cabral, Tapias, Aceves; Sanchez, Chavez, Guzman; Hurtado, Ibanez, Ibarra.

Pachuca Injuries: None.

Atlas vs Pachuca 2021-22 Liga MX Clausura Stats

Atlas vs Pachuca Best Bet

There’s obviously a lot on the line as both teams will likely feel each other out during the first leg of the final. With two resolute defenses on display, goals will be hard to come by, but Pachuca has the better track record of success on the road and will look to grab a first-leg advantage to take back to Hidalgo.

Best bet: Pachuca (+190)