Cruz Azul host FC Juarez at Estadio Azteca on Saturday, October 17 (11:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM PT).
Cruz Azul go into this one with no fresh fitness concerns to report, which should mean a settled look up front. Nicolas Ibanez and Gabriel Fernandez have scored 4 goals apiece this season and look set to lead the line again, with Jose Paradela pulling strings behind them after racking up 5 assists and 24 chances created. FC Juarez, also with a clean bill of health, will lean on Oscar Estupinan, the division’s standout scorer in this matchup with 6 goals, while Jose Rodriguez has created 15 chances from midfield.
Cruz Azul have scored in bunches lately — four against Club America, three against Toluca — and with Estupinan in such sharp form up top for Juarez, neither side looks built for a shutout. Expect goals at both ends, but Cruz Azul’s firepower up front should be enough to see them over the line in a game that ends up with chances for both sides rather than a tight, low-event affair.
US viewers can watch Cruz Azul vs FC Juarez on ViX, TUDN or Fox.
Cruz Azul vs FC Juarez: Best Bets & Predictions
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Season Form & Standings
With the Apertura table still taking shape, Cruz Azul’s results have carried the more eye-catching attacking numbers of the two sides heading into this one, while FC Juarez look to find consistency on the road.
Liga MX
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruz Azul | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC Juarez | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cruz Azul vs FC Juarez Predicted Lineups
Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.
Cruz Azul
4-2-3-1FC Juarez
4-1-3-2Potential Match-Winners
- Nicolas Ibanez (Cruz Azul): 4 goals and 16 shots on target in 744 minutes make him Cruz Azul’s most reliable attacking outlet.
- Jose Antonio Paradela (Cruz Azul): 5 assists and 24 chances created mark him out as the creative hub behind Cruz Azul’s attack.
- Oscar Estupinan (FC Juarez): 6 goals from 24 shots make him Juarez’s biggest individual threat on the road.
Recent Form
Cruz Azul: W W W L D
- 2026-09-26: Cruz Azul 3-3 Toluca (D, home)
- 2026-09-19: Monterrey 1-0 Cruz Azul (L, away)
- 2026-09-12: Cruz Azul 4-3 Club America (W, home)
- 2026-09-06: Cruz Azul 1-0 Santos Laguna (W, home)
- 2026-08-28: Necaxa 1-3 Cruz Azul (W, away)
Cruz Azul’s past five league matches read W W W L D: a 3-1 win away at Necaxa, home wins over Santos Laguna (1-0) and Club America (4-3), a 1-0 loss at Monterrey, and a 3-3 draw with Toluca most recently.
FC Juarez: L L W L D
- 2026-10-10: FC Juarez 1-1 Club Tijuana (D, home)
- 2026-09-27: Club Leon 2-1 FC Juarez (L, away)
- 2026-09-18: FC Juarez 2-0 Tigres UANL (W, home)
- 2026-09-13: Santos Laguna 2-1 FC Juarez (L, away)
- 2026-09-04: FC Juarez 0-2 Pachuca (L, home)
FC Juarez’s run of L L W L D includes a 0-2 home defeat to Pachuca, a 1-2 loss away at Santos Laguna, a 2-0 home win over Tigres UANL, a 1-2 defeat at Club Leon, and a 1-1 draw with Club Tijuana most recently.
Cruz Azul vs FC Juarez Prediction
Cruz Azul have the better of the attacking numbers in this one, with Ibanez and Fernandez both on four goals this season, and that edge should tell at Estadio Cuauhtemoc. FC Juarez aren’t short of a goal themselves — Estupinan already has six — but with both sides prone to leaking goals, Cruz Azul’s edge in front of goal should be enough. A 2-1 win for Cruz Azul looks the most likely outcome, keeping them in the thick of the Liguilla picture while Juarez continue to chase a play-in spot.
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