Chivas Guadalajara vs. FC Juarez Odds, Prediction, Picks

WSN

09 February 2024

Chivas Guadalajara vs. FC Juarez Odds, Prediction, Picks

Chivas Guadalajara vs. FC Juarez Predictions

The Clausura 2024 season started with two draws, sandwiching a loss for Chivas in the first three games. Winless and frustrated, the club finally notched its first win of the campaign against Toluca. The match was heading for a 2-2 draw before Ricardo Marin scored the winner in the 81st minute. In the previous match, Chivas needed two penalties from which Victor Guzman bagged a brace and helped his side beat Atletico de San Luis 2-0.

FC Juarez’s season started with a narrow 1-0 loss against Pumas UNAM. The club showed signs of recovery against Cruz Azul but could only muster a goalless draw in that match. Juarez fell to a 2-0 defeat against defending champions Club America in the third match before Atlas FC handed them a second consecutive loss in the fourth. The winless streak was on the verge of ending last weekend against Necaxa, but Juarez conceded a 96th-minute equalizer.

Chivas will aim for the fourth and final play-off qualification spot in Liga MX this season. To do that, they cannot afford to drop easy points. Juarez are struggling in all areas and will be playing on enemy territory. Capitalizing on home advantage, Chivas are expected to win this encounter easily.

This will only be the tenth Liga MX encounter between the two sides. Of the previous nine league matches, Chivas have won five, while Juarez only won once. Three matches have ended in draws.

When these two teams clashed last season, Alexis Vega scored the opening goal to put the visiting Chivas side in front after 21 minutes. Aviles Hurtado converted an 84th-minute penalty to restore parity, and the points were shared after the full-time whistle.

Juarez’s solitary win over Chivas came in the Clausura 2021 season. Goals from Dario Lezcano and Matias Garcia gave the visitors a 2-0 lead before the break at Estadio Akron. Jose Macias pulled one back for the hosts in the 77th minute, but Chivas could not get another.

Fixture Congestion Will Be a Concern for Chivas Guadalajara

Chivas have a glorious opportunity to bag a third consecutive win in the early stages of the Clausura 2024 season. It is a feat they have not achieved in the league since the start of the Apertura 2023 season when the club beat Leon, San Luis, and Necaxa on the bounce.

However, this fixture is tricky for Chivas because it is placed right between a two-legged CONCACAF Champions Cup tie with Forge FC. The 12-time Liga MX champions will play three matches in a span of six days.

Hosts Can Extend Unbeaten Run at Home to Five Games

After losing 4-0 at home against Tigres UANL in the 14th round of the regular Apertura 2023 season, Chivas have dodged defeat in their own backyard for four successive league games.

They registered a couple of 1-0 wins over Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM last season before securing a 1-1 draw against Santos Laguna and beating Toluca 3-2 at home this season. A win against Juarez will extend their unbeaten home run to five matches.

Key Defender Out for a Few Weeks

The victory against Toluca came at a price for Chivas, as Gilberto Sepulveda suffered a head injury during that match. The center-back has been ruled out till the end of this month.

Playing without the 25-year-old will be risky, but Chivas did that in the last match against San Luis and secured a comfortable win with a clean sheet.

FC Juarez Running Out of Ideas

The troubles are mounting for Juarez as coach Diego Mejia desperately seeks a solution. Adding two new center-backs, Arturo Ortiz and Francisco Calvo, has bolstered the defense but is not helping Juarez keep the opposition attackers at bay.

Mejia has deployed three different formations in the last three games, and none of them have worked well enough to give his side a win. The gaffer has to find one effective formation and tactic and hope his squad adapts well for the rest of the season.

No Away Wins in the Last Nine Attempts

Visiting an intimidating venue hands the hosts a significant advantage. At the same time, it is extremely disadvantageous for a side struggling to win on the road at other venues.

Juarez have failed to win any of their last nine away games in the league. Their last away win came in July against Toluca when the visitors won 4-2.

Winger Needs to Regain Lost Form

Aviles Hurtado has been a tricky player to defend against and has created several chances for Juarez this season, but he is still without a goal and an assist after five games.

Last season, the Colombian scored six and assisted three in 15 appearances. Juarez need the winger to find his form and start firing goals for his club again. Former Chivas striker Angel Zaldivar could make an appearance against his former club and share the burden with Hurtado.