Cruz Azul and Chicago Fire meet in a crucial Leagues Cup clash on Thursday, with both sides looking to secure a place in the quarterfinals after winning their opening two matches.
Cruz Azul sit third in the Liga MX Leagues Cup table with six points from two matches, while Chicago Fire are third in the MLS Leagues Cup table with six points. Both teams have won twice, meaning a victory for either side would guarantee a place in the quarterfinals.
Neither team has put a foot wrong so far. Los Celestes opened with a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Union before beating New York City FC 2-1, while Chicago followed a 2-0 win over Necaxa with a dramatic late 3-1 comeback against Santos Laguna.
The Fire scored three times in the final 18 minutes of that match, with Philip Zinckernagel, Robin Lod and Robert Lewandowski finding the net.
Recent form points towards another entertaining encounter.
Cruz Azul have seen over 2.5 goals in five of their last six matches, while Chicago have produced over 2.5 goals in 12 of their last 14. Both teams have also scored in six of Cruz Azul's last seven and nine of the Fire's last 11 matches.
With both sides already showing plenty of attacking threat and neither needing to settle for a cautious approach, goals look likely. A high-scoring tie is an appealing forecast in what should be a competitive quarterfinal shootout.
Cruz Azul vs. Chicago Fire betting picks and predictions
Tie (+250)
Cruz Azul and Chicago Fire have both won their opening two Leagues Cup matches, making this one of the toughest games to call.
Neither side has given much away defensively, with both conceding just once across their opening two matches.
However, the recent form of both teams points towards a close contest rather than a decisive result. La Máquina have won three straight, while Chicago have scored in seven of their last eight matches.
With both teams needing only a point to maintain their strong position but capable of causing problems in attack, the points could be shared in a high-quality contest.
Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score (-105)
The attacking numbers make goals the standout angle. Chicago have seen over 2.5 goals in 12 of their last 14, while Cruz Azul have seen over 2.5 goals in five of their last six matches.
Both teams have also scored in six of Cruz Azul's last seven matches and nine of Chicago's last 11.
Chicago have scored five goals across their opening two Leagues Cup games, while Cruz Azul have found the net three times.
The Fire's 3-1 comeback against Santos Laguna demonstrated their ability to produce late attacking pressure, while Cruz Azul have already shown they can find a way through against strong opposition.
With both teams boasting players capable of making the difference in the final third, another game featuring goals at both ends looks likely.
Jose Paradela to score anytime (+225)
Jose Paradela is an appealing option to find the net for Cruz Azul after scoring in both of the club's opening Leagues Cup matches.
Paradela scored the only goal in Cruz Azul's 1-0 victory over the Union before finding the net again in the 2-1 win against New York. That makes him the club's leading scorer in the competition with two goals.
Cruz Azul have already shown their ability to create chances against MLS opposition and Paradela's current form makes him the obvious player to watch in the final third.
With Chicago also expected to attack, the game should provide opportunities for Cruz Azul's forward players, giving Paradela a strong chance of adding to his tournament tally.
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Cruz Azul vs. Chicago Fire odds
Cruz Azul | +115 |
Tie | +250 |
Chicago Fire | +200 |
Cruz Azul vs. Chicago Fire player props
Anytime goalscorer
Gabriel Fernandez (Cruz Azul) | +130 |
Jose Paradela (Cruz Azul) | +225 |
Carlos Rotondi (Cruz Azul) | +260 |
Carlos Alberto Rodriguez ( Cruz Azul) | +300 |
Robert Lewandowski (Chicago Fire) | +130 |
Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire) | +225 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
