Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Leagues Cup clash between Club America and Atlas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two Liga MX sides will collide in an all-Mexican affair as Club America take on Atlas in the Round of 32 of the Leagues Cup on Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
The most recent meeting between both sides came in March, with La Aguilas recording a massive 5-1 victory over La Academia.
Match preview
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Club America enjoyed a productive domestic break with high-profile friendlies against Premier League opposition, Chelsea and Aston Villa, helping them stay in shape.
While they were outclassed by the Blues, suffering a 3-0 defeat on August 1, they bounced back to secure a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa two days later.
As reigning Liga MX champions, America bypassed the Leagues Cup group stage and entered the competition at the Round of 32 stage, making this their first game in the competition this year.
Their quest for a maiden Leagues Cup title begins with a familiar foe in Atlas, a side they have faced 55 times in the past, winning 27 and losing 14 encounters.
However, America’s domestic campaign has been inconsistent, with two wins and two defeats from their opening four matches, leaving them ninth in the table, four points adrift of the summit.
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Atlas progressed to the Round of 32 despite a 2-1 loss to MLS side Real Salt Lake in their final group game at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, last Friday.
Their 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo on matchday one was enough to secure second place in Group H, as they finished with a better goal difference than RLS.
The three-time Mexican champions were eliminated at the same stage of last year’s Leagues Cup by MLS side New England Revolution on penalties, and they will be hoping to avoid a repeat.
As they aim for their first Leagues Cup title, Atlas will need to improve on their previous performance against America to keep their hopes alive, having lost woefully to them in March.
Club America Leagues Cup form:
Club America form (all competitions):
Atlas Leagues Cup form:
Atlas form (all competitions):
Team News
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Club America will remain without 27-year-old centre-back Jorge Mere, who is out with a cruciate ligament tear and expected to miss the rest of the year.
Kevin Alvarez and Diego Valdes are also sidelined with foot injuries, while Alejandro Zendejas is out with a leg injury until later this month.
Atlas will line up without Brian Lozano as he continues his recovery from a knee surgery, while Mauro Manotas is also sidelined with an ACL injury.
Leonardo Flores is also expected to be out of action until mid-September, as he is dealing with a leg injury.
Club America possible starting lineup:
Malagon; Reyes, Araujo, Castillo, Calderon; Fidalgo, E. Sanchez, R. Sanchez, Dilrosun; Zendejas, Martin
Atlas possible starting lineup:
Vargas; Zaldivar, G. Aguirre, Mora, Reyes; Rocha, Rios; Murillo, Marquez, Fulgencio; E. Aguirre
We say: Club America 2-1 Atlas
Club America have not looked convincing in the opening league matches, but facing tougher opposition during the break is expected to help them increase their intensity.
While Atlas have looked decent so far, their recent results against America show that they have struggled to deliver the knockout blow, and we expect this to be the case again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.