Club América and Cruz Azul are set to clash in Liga MX’s Clausura 2024 on Sunday, as the two teams prepare for the highly anticipated Clásico Joven. The upcoming match will see the contrasting form of the two teams take center stage, with América experiencing a challenging period under head coach André Jardine, while Cruz Azul has surged to the top of the standings after a slow start.
América, who initially secured three victories, has recently struggled to maintain their winning momentum, recording just one win in their last five matches. In contrast, Cruz Azul, after earning only a single point from their first two fixtures, has impressively secured six consecutive victories, showcasing their remarkable turnaround in form.
As the match approaches, América’s head coach, André Jardine, is expected to field his strongest lineup in an effort to guide the team back to winning ways. This will likely see the return of key players such as defender Sebastián Cáceres and midfielder Diego Valdés to the starting lineup, following their recent absences.
América has faced challenges in the tournament, with several players experiencing muscle fatigue, potentially attributed to the lack of a preseason. Additionally, the team has dealt with cases of COVID-19 among its roster in recent weeks.
On the other hand, Cruz Azul, despite their current success, will be without the services of center-back Willer Ditta and attacker Gabriel “Toro” Fernández, who are expected to miss the upcoming clash due to injury.
Possible Club América XI against Cruz Azul:
- Luis Malagón;
- Israel Reyes;
- Sebastián Cáceres;
- Igor Lichnovsky;
- Cristian Calderón;
- Jonathan Dos Santos;
- Álvaro Fidalgo;
- Alejandro Zendejas;
- Diego Valdés;
- Henry Martin;
- Julián Quiñones.
Possible Cruz Azul XI against Club América:
- Kevin Mier;
- Carlos Salcedo;
- Erik Lira;
- Gonzalo Piovi;
- Rodrigo Huescas;
- Lorenzo Faravelli;
- Carlos Rodríguez;
- Carlos Rodolfo Rotondi;
- Uriel Antuna;
- Ángel Sepúlveda;
- Alexis Gutiérrez.
The upcoming match at Estadio Azteca will mark the 72nd encounter between the two teams in short tournaments. América currently leads the series with 29 victories to 19, accompanied by 23 draws. In the previous Clásico Joven during the Apertura 2023 tournament, América emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, with Julián Quiñones, Richard Sánchez, and Brian Rodríguez contributing to the team’s success.
