Liga MX Guardianes Round 1 Odds & Picks: Cruz Azul Poised to Extend Win Streak, Pumas & Monterrey Look to Rebound

• Liga MX action returns this weekend as the Guardianes schedule gets underway
• Atop the table when play was suspended, Cruz Azul take on Santo Laguna, new-look Queretaro battle struggling Pumas UNAM, while freefalling Monterrey host Toluca
• Read on to get all the odds and insight into Round 1 of the Liga MX Guardianes campaign

Mexican soccer is set to return this season as the Liga MX Guardianes schedule gets underway. Affectionately known as the “2020 Guardianes” season, this year’s campaign has been renamed in honor of healthcare workers.

Queretaro will put their new look on display when they battle Pumas UNAM in Mexico City on Saturday night as lengthy +250 underdogs. Cruz Azul look to continue the winning ways that lifted them to the top of the abbreviated Clausura table as they take on Santos Laguna as -118 chalk, while Monterrey aims to rebound from their dismal performance in the recent Clausura as they host Deportivo Toluca FC as -215 home favorites. Despite this, Monterrey are tipped as the early favorites to win the Guardianes season.

Here are all the available odds for Liga MX Guardianes Round 1, with a focus on these three key matchups.

Liga MX Guardianes Round 1 Odds

Odds taken July 24. For more betting options visit DraftKings Sportsbook

New Look Queretaro Visit Pumas UNAM

After the recent sale of the club, Queretaro FC will have a new look when they hit the pitch against Pumas UNAM on Saturday night. A large number of new players have come over from Atlante FC of the now-defunct Ascenco MX league. That club marched to a second-place finish in last season’s Apertura and compiled a 3-2-3 win-draw-loss record during the most recent Clausura campaign.

¡QUEDAN CINCO!

Sólo cinco jugadores del Querétaro se mantiene con respecto al torneo pasado.

🇲🇽 Gerardo Ruíz
🇲🇽 Gil Alcalá
🇪🇨 Jonathan Perlaza
🇦🇷 Julián Velázquez
🇲🇽 Omar Arellano pic.twitter.com/RVOeTM2ACY

— Goles y Cifras (@golesycifras) July 21, 2020

The biggest challenge that Atlante faced during their ill-fated Clausura was offensive production. The club mustered just one total goal over their final four contests, a run that mirrored Queretaro’s futility in Liga MX Clausura action. Los Gallos Blancos meekly closed out their shortened schedule on a four-match winless streak, scoring just two total goals over that stretch.

Pumas UNAM are battling internal turmoil as they get set for Saturday’s contest perched as attractive +100 home favorites. The club was rocked this week by José Miguel González’ decision to step down as head coach. “Michel” led Pumas to a 13-9-10 record during his brief tenure as bench boss and will be replaced by Andres Lillini.

#Pumas | El club Universitario informó que el Español, José Miguel González ´Míchel´ deja de ser su entrenador por motivos personales.#FaltaTáctica

📸: PumasMX pic.twitter.com/VhemuLeqDS

— Falta Táctica 🇲🇽 (@FaltaTactica2) July 23, 2020

Pumas enter the 2020/2021 Liga MX season looking for their first victory since February. The club have gone 0-4-3 over their past seven contests, capped by a pair of clean sheet draws. They must also overcome a shaky track record against Queretaro, posting just one win over their past six meetings, and picking up just one total point in their past two dates at Estadio Olímpico de Universitario. Don’t underestimate Los Gallos Blancos in this contest.

Picks: Queretaro FC to win (+250); UNDER 2.5 (-103)

Cruz Azul Ride Win Streak into New Season

Cruz Azul will try to pick up where they left off when they open the Liga MX Apertura schedule with a tough test against Santos Laguna as strong -118 favorites. La Máquina have dominated the Mexican soccer scene since early January, going 14-1-0 in their past 15 across all competitions, capped by an impressive undefeated march to a Copa por Mexico title.

https://twitter.com/Codice21_/status/1285967844396748805?s=20

The club has filled the net during the current tear, potting 40 total goals over their past 15 contests, and have seen at least four total goals scored on seven occasions during that stretch, including five of their past nine Liga MX matchups.

Santos Laguna were also enjoying a solid run through the Clausura before the season was halted. The Warriors posted wins in four of their final league matches, all low scoring affairs, to seize third place on the Clausura table.

Nuevos casos positivos de covid-19 en Santos Laguna a dos días de su debut ante Cruz Azul https://t.co/syuZB4q28R pic.twitter.com/Uip3At3WCP

— La Afición (@laaficion) July 24, 2020

However, the club returns to action without leading goalscorer Brian Lozano, who suffered a broken leg during the offseason. With real concerns existing about who will generate offense in Lozano’s absence. Further complicating matters are reports that at least four players have tested positive for COVID-19 this week, further decimating their lineup. Look for Cruz Azul to open their season with a multi-goal victory.

Picks: Cruz Azul to win (-118); OVER 2.5 (-148)

Slumping Rivals Clash as Monterrey Hosts Toluca

Just a year removed from their march to the 2019 Liga MX Apertura title, CF Monterrey tumbled to the basement of the league table during the Clausura, going winless in 10 contests. Despite that run of futility, the Rayados open the new season against Deportivo Toluca FC perched as heavy -215 home favorites.

🔊 The missed penalty kick that sends Monterrey to the Copa MX Final!#Rayados | #ArribaElMonterrey pic.twitter.com/tOYPsXigrX

— Rayados90 (@rayadosninety) March 12, 2020

Monterrey’s free-fall was spectacular. After capping off an impressive 8-3-0 run with an Apertura title, the club stumbled to a 0-5-5 record in Clausura action. That included a 0-3-2 run on their home pitch, with the club scoring just six total goals during that stretch. However, the Rayados have shown signs of a turnaround in the recent Copa MX, eking out a berth in this year’s final with wins in two of their past three outings.

Pegged as distant +555 underdogs in this weekend’s matchup, Toluca also have a mountain to climb following their dismal Clausura showing. The club surrendered 10 total goals during a four-match winless slide to close out the Clausura and followed up by failing to score in three Copa MX contests.

In addition, Toluca is winless in four visits to Monterrey, but blanked the Rayados 2-0 in their most recent meeting on home turf, back in February. Find the betting value in the +335 odds of this match ending in a draw.

Picks: Draw (+335); OVER 2.5 (-155)