Club Puebla vs Mazatlan FC Prediction, Picks, Betting Odds

Club Puebla vs Mazatlan FC Predictions

After losing their opening game of the season, Club Puebla bounced back with a win against Queretaro and then a draw against Club America. However, they failed to capitalize on the momentum and lost the next two games against CF Monterrey and Atletico de San Luis.

On the other hand, Mazatlan FC have lost all four of their games this Clausura season. Their winless streak got extended to eight games after their narrow loss against FC Juarez last Saturday.

The head-to-head stats heavily favour the hosts in this encounter. In the six previous matches against each other, Club Puebla have won five while Mazatlan FC have only won once.

There is not a lot of history in Liga MX between the two sides. However, Club Puebla have enjoyed playing against Mazatlan FC. In the Apertura season, Club Puebla beat Mazatlan FC 4-2 in a thoroughly entertaining encounter.

The two sides also met last year in the Clausura playoffs Round of 16. The scores were tied at 2-2 before Club Puebla eventually won it 3-1 on penalties and advanced to the next round. The last league stage encounter at this venue came in Apertura 2021.

In that game, Club Puebla struck twice in the final quarter of the match to win it 2-0. Mazatlan FC’s solitary victory in this fixture came in the Clausura 2022 league stage when they beat Club Puebla 2-1. 

Perfect Fixture For Club Puebla To Bounce Back

Club Puebla are coming into this game on the back of two successive losses. As a result, the club is dangling in 15th place on the table. In the Apertura season, Club Puebla finished eighth and qualified for the playoffs before losing in the quarter-finals against Club America.

This season, the club’s aim will be the same. Despite being 15th, Club Puebla is one of four clubs with a four-point tally. One of these clubs is Necaxa, who are currently occupying the last playoff spot.

The season is long, but the game against Mazatlan FC looks like the perfect encounter to give Club Puebla the desperately needed push for an early charge for playoff spots. It would boost the mood in the camp ahead of less-challenging games against Club Leon and Cruz Azul over the next couple of weeks.

The Club Has Already Matched Their Apertura Loss Tally 

With a playoff spot in their sights, there will be a major concern around the number of losses Club Puebla has already suffered in the Clausura season so far. The club has lost three out of their five Liga MX games.

Club Puebla lost three games in the entire league phase during the Apertura season. The side possessed a peculiar record last season as they lost three out of 17 games but simultaneously won only four.

The most draws in the Apertura 2022 were recorded by Club Puebla, as they drew ten of their league games. In addition to that, the side only lost one game at home all season in the league phase but have already lost one game in their own backyard, two weeks ago against CF Monterrey two weeks ago.

Club Puebla will be looking to turn things around and will be aiming to start this process with a win against bottom-dwellers Mazatlan FC.

Federico Mancuello is Mazatlan FC’s top scorer and top assist provider so far this season. The midfielder has scored two and assisted two in five games. In the Apertura 2022 season, Mancuello had the joint-highest assists at the club with three under his belt.

However, his teammates have not gotten off to a great start this season. Martin Barragan, who scored 9 goals last season and finished as the club’s top scorer, has only scored once in five games.

The other two goal-getters for Club Puebla, Jordi Cortizo and Israel Reyes, left the club and joined CF Monterrey and Club America, respectively. Now the goalscoring onus is on Barragan and Guillermo Martinez.

Tough Fixtures For Mazatlan FC

After losing their first four games against Atlas FC, Santos Laguna, Club America and FC Juarez, Mazatlan FC are probably looking at another defeat against a mercurial Club Puebla side that is eagerly waiting for only their second win this season.

The recent form of both sides is similar, but it’s Club Puebla with the historical edge. After this game, Mazatlan FC will go toe-to-toe with Apertura 2022 champions Pachuca before taking on Queretaro FC in a winnable match.

However, before playing Queretaro, both fixtures will be tough nuts to crack for Mazatlan FC and they could fall several points behind the playoff spots with the season just in its initial league phase.

Mentality Will Be Key For Mazatlan 

In the Apertura 2022 league phase, Mazatlan FC endured a difficult season. However, they were only two points off the final playoff spot. Mazatlan FC won three out of 17 games in the entire season.

This time they are the only team in Liga MX to have not earned a single point yet. This is when the mentality of the squad faces its toughest test. It’s still early days, and eventually, spectators could see the club pulling itself up in the latter part of the season.

Bello Injury Makes Matters Worse

Eduard Bello was the joint-top scorer for Mazatlan FC in Liga MX last season. In the Apertura 2022 league phase, Bello scored three goals. It was not an impressive tally, but it was enough to win a few points for the club.

However, Bello has been on the sidelines since January and is yet to make an appearance this season. Nicolas Bendetti scored three and assisted two goals last season. The midfielder is off to a decent start after getting a goal and an assist in three games so far.

Ariel Nahuelpan and Ake Arnaud Loba will likely retain their starting eleven spots in the team. The duo has a couple of goals and an assist between them. Fernando Illescas scored four minutes after coming on in the last match to show what he has to offer.