Liga MX Guardianes Round 9 Odds & Picks: Can Leon Continue Torrid Form?

• Matchday 9 in Liga MX begins on Tuesday, with the top four just a point within reach of each other
• Leon looks to continue their five-match unbeaten streak
• Get the odds, preview, and best bets for the most intriguing matches of this week’s clashes in Mexico’s top-flight below

Round 9 in Liga MX is upon us, with all 18 teams in action on Tuesday and Wednesday. It continues to stay very tight at the top of the table, with Leon holding just a one-point advantage over three teams, who are all tied for second with 16 points. Cruz Azul was in first before their defeat against 14th-place Atlas on Matchday Eight, which paved the way for Leon, who beat Nexaca 2-0.

Liga MX Matchday Nine Odds

Pick 1: Leon vs Tigres UANL

Leon continues to impress lately, securing the full three points in four of their last five matches. Last week, they beat 15th-place Nexaca, who were handed a red card in the 77th minute. But, the damage was already done, with Angel Mena converting on two spot-kicks early in the first half to give Leon a 2-0 win and first place in Liga MX for the time being. They have been outstanding defensively through their first eight fixtures, conceding just four goals and just two in their four appearances.

Tigres hasn’t enjoyed the best start to this campaign, winning just twice in eight games, drawing four times as well. They’re coming off a 3-1 loss to Guadalajara on Saturday, where they dominated possession but struggled to finish. One bright spot this term has been Andre-Pierre Gignac, who’s bagged eight goals already, which leads Liga MX. The Frenchman scored their lone goal over the weekend.

Heading into this fixture, Leon is slight favorites at +120. Given their current form, I’m giving them the advantage over Tigres. I believe it will be low scoring, but hosts will secure the three points and hold the top spot.

Pick: Leon (+125)

Pick 2: Cruz Azul vs Pachuca

Cruz Azul has been playing impressive football this season, sitting in first place before their loss to Atlas on Saturday, which pushed them down to second. They’ve lost just twice this season so far and have been extremely productive in the final third, bagging 14 goals already.

Uruguayan Jonathan Rodriguez has fired home seven of them, proving to be a difference-maker for Robert Siboldi’s side. But, their recent defeat was a disappointing one because they gave up a penalty which led to the lone goal for Atlas, while Azul struggled to create opportunities on target. They had 17 shots in total, but just two were on net. They completely dominated the match, but the one mishap in their own end resulted in a negative result. A win on Wednesday will be crucial as they hunt down Leon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xDTsdtog7w

Pachuca isn’t far behind their Matchday nine counterparts, just two points shy in fifth. They’re fresh off a 3-1 victory against bottom of the table Atletico San Luis. Although they played a weaker opponent, it will give them much-needed momentum heading into this important fixture against Leon. Chilean winger Victor Davila has been in fine form this term so far, netting five times in just seven appearances for Pachuca.

Both of these squads have been solid at the back, conceding one or fewer goals per match. With this in mind, I believe they’ll both score a goal and take away a point each on Wednesday. Cruz Azul enters as clear favorites at -118, but a draw is highly possible in this one.

Pick: Draw (+260)

Pick 3: Pumas vs Santos

Pumas are currently the only unbeaten club in Liga MX, but they still sit in second place. They’ve won four times and also tied just as many fixtures. Pumas have been productive on the attack though, scoring 1.9 goals per match while conceding just seven times. They head into this fixture against Santos with boatloads of confidence after burying Puebla 4-1 on Saturday.

Santos have been fundamentally sound this season, despite sitting in 11th place. They’re 2-3-3, but the majority of their defeats have been by just one goal. They grabbed a point over the weekend against Juarez, tying 1-1. Just three points separate them and seventh-place Toluca, so depending on what the teams just above Santos do this week, a victory could potentially move them into the top 10.

Surprisingly, Santos enters this fixture as -134 favorites despite Pumas being at the top of the table. I think a breakthrough is coming for the hosts and it could be this week. I believe they will pull off the upset and win by one goal in this match.

Pick: Santos (-134)