Two clubs chasing the Apertura Liga MX title will do battle today in a league match between Monterrey and Cruz Azul. The first-division clash scheduled for 8 p.m. ET will be held at Estadio Tecnologico in Monterrey and can be live streamed free via the Univision Deportes mobile app. Additional TV coverage can be found on Univision Deportes.
Four matches into the season, Cruz Azul find themselves with a pedestrian five points. The club managed to capture its first victory of the Apertura campaign in Week 4, but admittedly, the 1-0 result was thanks in large part to Michael Orozco's self-implosion. Despite the assist from the Puebla defender, manager Luis Fernando Tena believes his side has played quality enough football thus far. The results just haven't followed.
"In regard to our points total thus far: It's bad," Tena said (via Televisa Deportes). "It's obvious that a club of this magnitude should have better results at this point. "[The 2014 Apertura has been] good in terms of our development. We also think we can be playing better, though."
"Last tournament, collectively, we were a much better team," he added. "It's basically the same team."
It hasn't, however, been the same results. That must change in Monterrey this evening.
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Atop the formation, Monterrey's Humberto Suazo remains the club's primary creative force. The 33-year-old enters today's match with one goal and club-best 12 chances created.
Monterrey's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Orozco; Medina, Juarez, Alanis, Velarde; Meza, Oliveira, Pabon, Zavala, Cardozo; Suazo
Cruz Azul's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Corona; Pinto, Rodriguez, Juarez, Martinez; Bernardello, Baez; Rojas, Formica, Fabian; Pavone
Note: Credit all statistics to the officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via Squawka).
Standings
| Rnk | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/- | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CF América | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 12 | |||
| 2 | Atlas | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 10 | |||
| 3 | Querétaro | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | |||
| 4 | Club de Futbol Monterrey | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 | |||
| 5 | Jaguares | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 7 | |||
| 6 | CD León | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 6 | |||
| 7 | Club de Fútbol Pachuca | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |||
| 8 | Veracruz | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |||
| 9 | Tigres | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||
| 10 | Santos Laguna | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 | |||
| 11 | Toluca | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |||
| 12 | Cruz Azul | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |||
| 13 | Club Tijuana | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 | |||
| 14 | Guadalajara | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 | |||
| 15 | Puebla | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 4 | |||
| 16 | Pumas UNAM | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 3 | |||
| 17 | Monarcas | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 2 | |||
| 18 | Leones Negros | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
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