Preview: Cruz Azul vs. Toluca - prediction, team news, lineups

Cruz Azul and Toluca both set out to pick up their first win of the new Liga MX campaign when they go head to head at the Estadio Azteca on Saturday.

The home side will be looking to get one over the Diablos Rojos, having failed to win any of the last three meetings between the teams since a 4-1 victory in February 2022.

Match preview

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Since clinching the Apertura title four years ago and to end their 23-year trophy drought, Cruz Azul have struggled for success in the Mexican Liga MX.

Los Celestes' quest to repeat their 2018-19 success has seen them make four head coach changes since August that year, with current manager Ricardo Ferretti taking up the role in February.

However, they could only finish seventh and eighth in the table, before closing out the season with a disappointing last-16 exit from the Clausura playoff in May.

Cruz Azul were denied a dream start to the 2023-24 campaign as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of 10-man Atlas in last Sunday's league opener.

In an action-packed contest at the Jalisco Stadium, Eduardo Aguirre and Aldo Rocha scored in either half to hand Benjamin Mora's men a comfortable victory.

Like this weekend's hosts, Toluca were denied an opening-day victory as they were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Necaxa side at the Estadio Nemesio Diez.

Despite a somewhat disappointing start to the new campaign, Ignacio Ambriz's side will be backing his side to bounce back as they look to pick up from where they dropped up in last season's Clausura.

Toluca picked up 32 points from their 17 matches in the second half of the season to finish fourth in the Clausura standings and book their spot in the playoffs.

However, the Diablos Rojos suffered a quarter-final exit from the playoffs back in May as they fell to a 5-4 aggregate defeat at the hands of Tigres UANL.

Team News

Cruz Azul remain without the services of Uriel Antuna and Carlos Rodriguez, who are currently on international duty with the Mexico national team at the ongoing Gold Cup.

On the injury front, Ferretti will be unable to call upon 24-year-old left-back Carlos Vargas, who has been sidelined since February through an ACL injury.

Newly-signed defender Carlos Salcedo started Monday's opener against Atlas and should form the centre-back pairing with 22-year-old Alan Zubiri once again.

Toluca, on the other hand, head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Ambriz the luxury of a full-strength squad at his disposal.

Leonardo Fernandez was a standout performer for the Diablos Rojos last season, and the 24-year-old midfielder, who racked up 16 goals and assists last term, will be one to keep an eye on.

Cruz Azul possible starting lineup:

Jurado; Lira, Salcedo, Zubiri, Escobar, Vargas; Huescas, Tabo, Rotondi, Moises; Lotti

Toluca possible starting lineup:

Volpi; Orrantia, Mosquera, Huerta, Isais; Meneses, Navarro, Baeza, Fernandez; Morales, Lopez

We say: Cruz Azul 2-1 Toluca

Having both failed to win their opening games of the season, Cruz Azul and Toluca will head into the weekend in search of a morale-boosting result and this makes for an exciting watch. Los Celestes' home advantage makes them slight favourites and we fancy them to pick up all three points, albeit by the odd goal.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.