Round one of the 2024 Liga MX season sees Cruz Azul and Mazatlan go head-to-head at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes on Saturday.
Both teams endured relatively disappointing campaigns last time out and will be keen to kick off on a winning note to help set the tone this term.
Match preview
Cruz Azul wrapped up preparations for their return to competitive action by claiming a slender 1-0 victory over America De Cali on Sunday.
Gutierrez Torres's 18th-minute winner proved to be the all-important moment that got the job done for Martin Anselmi's men in a tight affair.
That ended a four-game winless run for Los Celestes since they narrowly defeated Monterrey 1-0 in the recently-concluded playoffs.
Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose from over the last six meetings, which have yielded two wins apiece and two stalemates.
Off the back of a rare home victory last time out, Saturday's hosts will now be looking to make it consecutive wins in front of their fans for the first time in over four months.
Mazatlan played out a 1-1 draw in their sole pre-season friendly against lower league side Dorados de Sinaloa at Estadio de Mazatlan on Sunday.
Victor Manuel's men took the lead inside two minutes through Gustavo Del Prete before Daniel Lopez levelled matters 11 minutes shy of the break.
Los Canoneros have now gone three matches without a win and boast just one win from their most recent five involvements across all competitions.
Aiming to address a dismal away record which has seen them come out on top on just one of their last 12 trips, Saturday's visitors know they have work to do at both ends of the pitch.
Team News
Gutierrez Torres has found the back of the net in his last two matches for Cruz Azul, making him one to keep an eye on.
Midfielder Luis Iturbide remains out of action with a long-term knee problem and will not play any part for the home side here.
Jose Maduena could make an immediate return to the Mazatlan starting XI, having served his suspension in the final game of his side's league journey last time out.
Ramiro Arciga is currently on international duty with the Mexico Under-23s, ruling him out of contention for the visitors.
Cruz Azul possible starting lineup:
Mier; Rotondi, Piovi, Salcedo, Ditta, Huescas; Rivero, Rodriguez, Faravelli, Antuna; Sanchez
Mazatlan possible starting lineup:
Duran; Rodriguez, Sanchez, Almada, Maduena; Montano, Escobar, Reyes, Esquivel; Prete, Amarilla
We say: Cruz Azul 3-1 Mazatlan
Cruz Azul are huge favourites to get the job done and anything less than three points would be deemed disappointing. We fancy the hosts to cruise to a relatively routine win come the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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