San Luis vs Club Leon Odds, Prediction, Picks

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San Luis vs Club Leon Odds, Prediction, Picks

San Luis vs Club Leon Predictions

Compared to the last Apertura season, San Luis have made a better start after losing just one game in the opening four fixtures of the new season. In the 2022-23 Apertura campaign, the club had to wait for ten games before clinching their second win of the season. The following Clausura season also got off to a shaky start. However, the club seems to have found its footing this season and are looking strong. San Luis clinched a narrow 2-1 win over Puebla in the previous fixture.

Club Leon had the opportunity to add another trophy to their cabinet when they entered the knockout stage of the 2023 Leagues Cup. The side beat Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps on penalties and then nabbed a narrow 1-0 win over LA Galaxy to secure qualification. However, their knockout journey lasted just one game, as they were beaten 3-1 by Real Salt Lake. Club Leon resumed their Apertura season with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Mazatlan FC almost a week ago.

It will be a tad difficult to predict a winner in this mercurial clash, but considering Club Leon’s performance this year, the advantage lies with them. These are still early days in the Mexican top flight, providing spectators with innumerable upsets. However, Club Leon are expected to edge past the 2018-19 Liga de Expansion MX winners.

The two mercurial clubs have clashed 11 times in Liga MX and twice in Copa MX. Club Leon have the better record in this fixture, winning on seven occasions. Meanwhile, San Luis won just thrice, and only one game ended in a draw.

In the two Copa MX encounters, Club Leon won the first leg 2-1, holding San Luis to a 3-3 draw in the second leg. In Liga MX, Club Leon’s last visit to the Estadio Alfonso Lastras Ramirez was quite fruitful as they nabbed a 2-1 win in the last Apertura season.

The scales have balanced evenly in the last five fixtures as both sides have won two games each, and one game has ended in a goalless draw. That draw came in the 2021 Apertura season, after which there have always been goals in this fixture.

Across all competitions, Club Leon have visited Estadio Alfonso Lastras Ramirez six times. They have won four times and lost just twice. 

San Luis Aiming for Three Straight Wins for the First Time  

The performance of San Luis since the Clausura playoffs has been quite impressive. The side lost to Club America in the quarterfinals but lost by a very slender margin. The new Apertura campaign may not have started with a win, but a 1-1 draw against five-time Liga MX champions CF Monterrey can be considered a positive result for San Luis.

In the second game, the defense failed to keep Chivas Guadalajara's attack at bay and fell to a 3-1 loss. However, San Luis were quick to bounce back and nabbed a 4-1 win over Queretaro FC and then clinched another win over Puebla last week.

Now, San Luis will be hoping to do something that they have never achieved in Liga MX before - win three consecutive games. The club must also pick up maximum points against teams that are not top contenders for the league title to make the playoffs again.

Playing Without Their First-Choice Keeper  

In the 2023 Leagues Cup group-stage match against New England Revolution, San Luis not only suffered a humiliating 5-1 loss but also lost their first-choice goalkeeper, Andres Sanchez, to a calf injury six minutes past the hour-mark.

Since then, the club has relied on Diego Urtiaga. The 24-year-old is a tad inexperienced and has not been convincing between the sticks in the last two starts. However, San Luis have no other option and will continue with Sanchez in goal against Club Leon.

San Luis Aim to Better Last Season's Home Form  

In the Clausura season, San Luis lost only one out of eight games that were played at the Estadio Alfonso Lastraz Ramirez. They won four and drew three. This season, the club would want to turn those draws into victories and collect more points from their own backyard.

Additionally, it will be crucial for San Luis to improve their away form as they won just one out of nine away games last season, drawing one and winning just a solitary game throughout the Clausura league stage.

League Title in Club Leon’s Crosshairs   

Club Leon are expected to be involved in the Liga MX title fight with the top contenders this season. The club's eighth league title came almost three years ago, and they finished as the runners-up in the 2021-22 Apertura season.

Despite exiting the 2023 Leagues Cup in the first knockout round, the expectations are quite high from Club Leon this season. This is primarily because of their stellar performance in the last edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.

The side beat defending MLS champions Los Angeles FC in the competition's final to win their maiden Champions League title in June this year. So far this Apertura season, Club Leon have only lost against the Clausura runners-up Chivas and Clausura champions Tigres UANL. 

Club Leon Dodged Many Defeats on the Road Last Season  

Club Leon have played four games in the new Apertura season so far, and three of them have been at home, with just one game on the road. They have won three out of the four home games and only lost the one against Chivas Guadalajara.

Away from home, they suffered a narrow loss against Tigres UANL. The astounding fact here is that Club Leon have already matched their Clausura 2022-23 away loss tally after just one away game. Nicolas Larcamon's men lost one, won three, and drew four of their eight away games during the Clausura campaign - a decent record they would improve further this season. 

Former Club America Striker Could Be Key for Club Leon

Club Leon signed Federico Vinas from Club America in June this year. The Uruguayan left the 13-time Liga MX champions after making about 120 appearances for the club over four years but only scoring 24 goals.

Since joining Club Leon, the striker has made four appearances, out of which three were as a substitute. He came off the bench against Tigres and in two Leagues Cup matches. He made an impact in his first start against Mazatlan in the last match by scoring the winner.