Mazatlan FC vs. Club Necaxa Prediction, Picks, Odds

WSN

29 February 2024

Mazatlan FC vs. Club Necaxa Prediction, Picks, Odds

Mazatlan FC vs. Club Necaxa Predictions

Despite winning only one out of nine league games this season, Mazatlan have shown sparks of brilliance on multiple occasions. They have lost five matches, but the same team held the likes of Chivas Guadalajara and Club America to stalemates in consecutive games. Their solitary victory came against Atlas almost three weeks ago. The momentum was building gradually before Santos Laguna disrupted the flow last weekend after handing Mazatlan a 1-0 defeat.

No other team in the league has drawn as many games as Necaxa has so far. In nine matches, the club has registered six stalemates and won three. They are the only team, apart from Monterrey, that is yet to lose a game this season. From the third to the seventh round of the regular Clausura 2024 season, Necaxa secured five consecutive draws before the club secured a third win of the campaign against Chivas Guadalajara. They held Pachuca to a 1-1 draw in the last match.

Both these clubs have been bottom dwellers on multiple occasions in recent years. However, Necaxa have been one of the biggest surprise packages this season. They finished the Apertura 2023 campaign with a wooden spoon, and now they are only four points off the league leaders. On the other hand, Mazatlan are three points away from the last play-in spot and are unpredictable. Based on the current form and past results, Necaxa are the favorites to win.

This will be the eighth meeting between Mazatlan and Necaxa. The fixture has been dominated by the latter after winning four encounters, while the former has emerged victorious on only one occasion. The other two games have ended in draws.

When Necaxa hosted Mazatlan last season, Edgar Mendez, Ricardo Monreal, Alexis Pena, and Cesar Lopez were on target for the hosts. The visitors were reduced to ten men just before the break after Luis Amarilla was dismissed before eventually suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat.

Mazatlan last hosted Necaxa in the Clausura 2023 season. The margins were slender in this encounter, but the outcome was the same. Monreal scored the only goal of the match in first-half stoppage time to give the visitors all three points.

Mazatlan Have to Remain Within Striking Distance of Play-In Spots

Last season, six playoff spots and four play-in spots were available for teams during the regular season. A string of good performances helped Mazatlan clinch tenth place and the final play-in spot in dramatic fashion.

There are only four playoff spots this season, and the number of play-in spots has increased from four to eight. This change in format comes as good news for clubs like Mazatlan. They are just three points off the final play-in spot and would like to remain close to it.

Striker Eyeing Redemption

When these two clubs last met in the previous Apertura campaign, Amarilla’s cynical challenge on Necaxa’s Alan Montes forced VAR to upgrade a yellow card to a red.

In this match, the Paraguayan will be looking for redemption. Amarilla has scored four goals in the last three appearances and will be itching to score his fifth in the next match.

Venezuelan Winger Could Be Fit for This Game

Eduard Bello suffered a thigh injury in the match against Chivas Guadalajara almost two weeks ago. Since then, he has missed the matches against Club America and Santos Laguna.

However, the winger could be fit to start from the bench against Necaxa. Bello’s only goal contribution of the season came against Leon when he assisted Mazatlan’s second goal.

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Club Necaxa Eager to Extend Record Against Mazatlan

Necaxa dominate the head-to-head record between these two clubs. The visitors have not lost to Mazatlan in the last five encounters. Necaxa have won three, and the other two matches have ended in draws. Mazatlan’s last and only win over their next opponents came three years ago.

Considering the run they are on, the visitors will not want to lose their unbeaten streak against a team like Mazatlan. Considering their current form and history in this fixture, the odds favor Necaxa, and they have an excellent opportunity to clinch three points.

The Defense Looks Quite Strong

The Necaxa defensive line did well in the last match. Pachuca have one the best attacks in the league but Necaxa kept them at bay till the end before giving away a penalty in stoppage time.

Alan Montes gave the penalty away, but apart from that, the defender was staunch. His defensive partner Emilio Gonzalez scored a screamer and did well defensively. The duo is expected to do the same against Mazatlan.

The Front Three Are Finally Starting to Gel on Pitch

The Necaxa attack features two new faces this season. Jose Paradela has arrived on loan from River Plate, and Diber Cambindo has arrived on loan from Cruz Azul.

The duo operates in a three-man attack, with Monreal completing the attacking line. The front three have scored an aggregate of seven goals and registered a combined number of eight assists so far. They have started to link up well on the pitch.