Toluca, for example, have managed to climb to seventh on the points table despite having a goal difference of -4 (7 goals scored and 11 conceded). There are teams above them who have shown they can muster points despite having a poor goal difference. However, with only six goals scored, they have the worst goal difference in the league at -7. They have conceded 13 goals in six games, equal to a rash Club America unit. Santos Laguna have the joint worst defensive record this season. While there were some promising signs in that game, it also showed the flip side where Santos Laguna were simply unable to break down a team in the final third despite having several metrics in their favor. Offensively, they had 11 shots with three on target in that game. Santos Laguna were able to ensure that Juarez failed to find even one shot on target.

There were signs of defensive solidity coming back to their game in a goalless draw against Juarez on the road in their previous game. Santos Laguna have drawn two and lost four to pick up just two points this season, which has left them reeling at the bottom of the Liga MX standings. That is usually a recipe for disaster irrespective of the standard of a league. Santos Laguna are the only team in the Liga MX not to have won a single game this season. If Cruz Azul can maintain this effectiveness on either end of the soccer pitch, then Santos Laguna are simply no match in this game. That has resulted in a goal difference of +6, which is second-best in the Liga MX. In a slow-moving league like the Liga MX, a strong offensive core can create a point of differentiation.ĭefensively, Cruz Azul have still managed to stay compact at the back, conceding six goals at an average of one per game. Only six teams have scored 10 or more goals this season. They have scored 11 goals in six games this season. If you extrapolate some of this offensive efficiency over the course of a season, you will see why Cruz Azul have been so successful. In terms of possession, they had just 47 percent of the ball but were significantly better in their transition from defense into the final third.Ĭruz Azul had a high conversion rate of shots taken to shots on goal (11 shots taken, 5 on target). Impressively, Cruz Azul were able to dominate the game despite failing to find efficiency in key offensive metrics.Ĭruz Azul had a passing accuracy of just 75 percent as they completed 332 passes. Juan Escobar opened the scoring in the seventh minute but Toluca equalized shortly after.Ī more open second half resulted in plenty of gaps in the final third as Carlos Alberto Rodriguez broke the deadlock in the 64th minute before Santiago Gimenez closed the game with a late brace. Cruz Azul Thrash TolucaĬruz Azul were nowhere near their best but still managed to find enough offensive depth and rhythm to cruise past Toluca on the road 4-1. These two teams have been on opposite ends of the form spectrum: Cruz Azul have won three of their last five games to pick up a total of 10 points in that period while Santos Laguna have lost four of their last five, which has left them reeling at the bottom of the Liga MX standings with just two points in six games. Cruz Azul will be aiming to continue their resurgent run of recent form when they host the struggling Santos Laguna on Sunday night from the Estadio Azteca.

Cruz azul vs santos