Cruz Azul vs Atlas Odds & Prediction – Liga MX Clausura Round 12
- Table-toppers Cruz Azul at home against Atlas at 9;00 pm ET at Azteca Stadium on Saturday
- Cruz favored after nine-game winning streak but Atlas is undefeated in seven
- See all the odds and best bets for Cruz Azul vs Atlas in the Liga MX Clausura Guardianes Round 12 below
Cruz Azul is leading in Mexico’s Liga MX Clausura Guardianes competition and aims to extend a remorseless nine-match winning streak when they play host to Atlas on Saturday. Cruz Azul vs Atlas kicks off at 9:00 pm ET on March 20 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City – the hometown of Cruz Azul.
Sixth-placed Atlas is in impressive form themselves with five wins and three draws in their current eight-game unbeaten stretch.
The league hits Round 12 this weekend ahead of the international break with teams hoping to cement their promising positions before the run-in to the end of the regular season in April and May.
Liga MX Cruz Azul vs Atlas Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruz Azul vs Atlas | CRU -0.75 (+106) | ATL +0.75 (-137) | SWA -125| ATL +370 | DRAW +240 | Ov 2.5 (+123) | Un 2.5 (-162) |
Odds taken Mar 19
Unsurprisingly, Cruz Azul is rated as the firm favorite this weekend at DraftKings who price them at -125 for a home win. Meanwhile, Atlas is at +340 with the draw at +240.
Further, in what is likely to be a low-scoring game, the spread offer for in-form Cruz top win by two goals or more at +106 looks interesting (Asian Handicap -0.75.) A win by one goal would pay half. However, it does not look as promising as the draw.
With their recent record so consistent, Guadalajara-based Atlas may well be able to claim a point here even though Cruz Azul has been so relentless lately.
Four Straight 1-0 Wins for Cruz
At the top of the table, Cruz Azul leads with 27 points ahead of second-placed Club America which has 25 points.
But the last four wins for Cruz have all been by 1-0, which suggests they are grinding out results just lately.
Congrats to Luis Romo and Orbelín Pineda who have been called up for the upcoming friendly’s later this month with the senior Mexican National Team! 🚂🇲🇽🇺🇸 #LigaMXEng pic.twitter.com/wkClXv68VE
— The Máquina Cruz Azul (@The_MaquinaEN) March 17, 2021
In fact, they are not a free-scoring side and they have hit the net more than two times only twice in the current successful spell.
That said, Atlas is not exactly prolific either. In their eight-game unbeaten spell, they, too, have scored more than two only twice.
In 11 games, Cruz Azul has scored 16 times while being so defensively sound that they have conceded just five goals.
Again, it suggests a tight battle on Saturday – an idea backed up by both teams’ overall statistics.
In 11 games, Cruz Azul has scored 16 times while being so defensively sound that they have conceded just five goals.
The team is viewed as being very well-organized at the back with a knack for their patience in the build-up and opportunistic goals.
Liga MX Cruz Azul vs Atlas Stats
| 9 | Wins | 5 |
| 0 | Draws | 3 |
| 2 | Losses | 3 |
| 16 | Goals | 11 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 7 |
| 17 | Yellow Cards | 22 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 3 |
| 7 | Clean Sheets | 5 |
Last time out, they were 1-0 winners at home against Monterrey – who are nicknamed the Rayados – last weekend – and now head into their third straight home fixture as they seek to finish on top of the regular-season standings.
By contrast to the current run of four narrow victories, they were more dominant in February as their winning streak got fully into gear.
They scored 11 times in February’s four games – which included a 4-1 home defeat of Queretaro and a 3-2 success against Toluca.
Further, in that month, they conceded only three times.
Similarly, Atlas has been low-scoring with only 11 strikes to their credit in their 11 outings- and equally taut defensively with only seven conceded.
Three-Win Streak for Atlas
In their most recent game, they were 1-0 winners away at Puebla which took their winning spell to three in succession.
Their current position of sixth would earn them a place in the first section of the end-of-season play-offs contested by the sides which finish fifth to 12th.
Here are the @Playingfor90 Power Rankings as Liga MX Matchday 12 gets under way tonight. #ligamxeng @ClubLeonEN @The_MaquinaEN @Tuzos @tigres_english https://t.co/LpceUqnfLE
— Thomas M. Buckley (@TomBuckley519) March 18, 2021
Meanwhile, if Atlas maintains its lead at the head of the table, they will be headed into the second round of the playoffs for which the top four clubs qualify.
When these teams last met last September in the Apertura section of the two-part Liga MX season, there was a 1-0 home win for Atlas.
Atlas’s leading league scorer is Ian Torres Ramirez who has only two goals.
Previously, Atlas was also 2-1 winners in the prior meeting at Cruz Azul’s home base in January 2020.
Subsequently in this Clausura campaign, Cruz Azul’s leading scorers are the Uruguayan Jonathan Rodriguez and the Mexican Roberto Alvarado – who have only three strikes each.
Further, Atlas’s leading league scorer is Ian Torres Ramirez who has only two goals.
📸 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆. #LateConFuria 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ugdgZcC9CO
— Atlas FC EN (@AtlasFC_en) March 18, 2021
This has not been a free-scoring campaign in Liga MX and a potentially tight affair is in store between these sides in Mexico City.
In Cruz Azul’s case, all winning streaks come to an end at some point.
Atlas looks stubborn enough to make that happen and a draw is the most likely outcome.
Pick: Draw +240
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
